A study around Driver perception of alerts

UTAC is currently conducting a study for the French Minister of the Interior, in charge of road safety, to identify the most relevant alerts for capturing drivers’ attention. The goal is to determine which alerts—auditory, visual, or vibratory—are the most effective depending on different driving situations. This study is being carried out in two complementary phases.

Phase 1: On-track evaluation
The first part of the study takes place on UTAC’s test tracks. Participants are invited to evaluate different types of alerts on a scale of 1 to 5, ranging from weak to strong. Each driver is exposed to three levels of alert while maintaining a constant speed. The aim is to identify signals that are either too aggressive or not sufficiently perceptible, while also considering background noise and driving conditions.
 

Phase 2: Simulator studies
The second phase is carried out on a driving simulator, allowing auditory, visual, and vibratory alerts to be tested under controlled conditions. This method assesses their effectiveness and perception depending on the urgency of the driving situation.

Thanks to this study, UTAC teams will provide the Minister with precise data on how drivers perceive alerts, thereby contributing to the improvement of safety and the efficiency of driver assistance systems.