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(Ed.)
Although driving is a complex and multitask activity, it is not unusual for drivers to engage simultaneously in other non-driving related tasks using secondary in-vehicle displays (IVIS). The use of IVIS and its potential negative safety consequences has been investigated over the years. However with the advent and advance of in-vehicle technologies such as augmented-reality head-up displays (AR HUDs), there are increasing opportunities for improving secondary task engagement and decreasing negative safety consequences. In this study, we aim to understand the effects of AR HUD low cognitive load tasks on driving performance during monotonous driving. Adapting NHTSA’s driver distraction guidelines, we conducted a user-study with twenty-four gender-balanced participants that performed secondary AR HUD tasks of different durations while driving in a monotonous environment using a medium-fidelity driving simulator. We performed a mixed-methods analysis to evaluate driver’s perceived workload (NASA-TLX), lateral, and longitudinal driving performance. Although we found that drivers subjectively perceive AR HUD tasks to have a higher cognitive demand; AR tasks resulted in improved driving performance. Conversely, the duration of the secondary tasks had no measurable impacts on performance which suggests that the amount of time spent on tasks has no negative or positive implications on driving performance. We provide evidence that there are potential benefits of secondary AR task engagement; in fact, there are situations in which AR HUDs can improve driver’s alertness and vigilance.
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