Evaluating the Impact of Head-Up-Display Position for Navigation Systems on Driver Safety and Usability

Abstract

Head-Up Displays (HUDs) in passenger vehicles are increasingly recognized as a promising technology for enhancing driver immersion and improving road safety by projecting essential information directly into the driver’s line of sight. Despite the apparent advantages, HUD systems have also been associated with challenges, particularly concerning cognitive overload and the possible impact on drivers' focus and overall safety. This study seeks to address these concerns by evaluating HUD navigation systems in comparison with traditional Head-Down Display (HDD) systems. To systematically investigate the effects of HUDs on driver behaviour, a controlled driving simulator study was developed and tested by 22 participants. Each participant engaged in driving tasks using both HUD and HDD interfaces, allowing for a direct comparison of driving behaviour on key behavioural metrics. Authors evaluated variances in the participants' attention to road conditions, their cognitive load, and interaction patterns with the navigation systems. In addition to these objective measures, subjective feedback was collected from participants to capture their personal impressions and preferences regarding the usability and effectiveness of each display type in the simulated Laboratory driving environment. The findings from this research highlight several notable advantages of HUD systems. A significant majority of participants expressed a preference for HUDs, primarily due to the reduced need for frequent focal shifts between the display and the road, which allowed them to maintain better situational awareness of their surroundings. Quantitative performance metrics, such as the duration of road focus and the accuracy of environmental perception, were consistently higher when participants utilized HUDs compared to HDDs. The research offers specific recommendations for future design refinements aimed at achieving an optimal balance between information presentation and driver safety, paving the way for more effective and safer HUD integration in future vehicle models.

Keywords: Head Up Display, Driver Safety, Head Down Display, Autonomous driving systems

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005851