No Driver Is Alone: A Multicentered Human-Machine System Framework for Multitasking While Driving

Abstract

Driving is a multitasking process. With the advance of artificial intelligence and driver assistance systems, the tasks of driving go far beyond monitoring one’s surroundings and turning the steering wheel. For example, using phones while driving is a common occurrence. However, past studies analyzing driving have only considered a single driver’s view, based on the incorrect assumption that the driver is the only person who impacts road safety. This paper proposes a multi-centered human-machine system framework that takes more factors into account, including the drivers of surrounding vehicles and advances in driver assistance technology. An analysis of the scenario of phone calling while driving is performed using the proposed framework, followed by a preliminary evaluation with 18 beginner-level drivers. The results demonstrated the new framework’s capability of identifying more approaches both theoretically and practically to better balance the driving and non-driving tasks, compared to the traditional framework. Future research topics with the multi-centered framework, including hierarchical analysis of treatments, collaborative driving support, and information interference are addressed.