Estimating Attentional State of a Driver: Interacting Effects of Task Demands and Cognitive Capacities

Abstract

Drivers are often distracted by non-driving tasks such as texting and conversation, increasing the risk of traffic accidents. An accurate estimation of cognitive load and mental state of drivers is crucial to countermand the detrimental effects of distractions. Here we asked participants to perform a primary driving task and a secondary cognitive task in parallel to examine the effects of elevated cognitive load. Individuals' cognitive capacities were measured in separate experiments. Task demands and individual cognitive capacities systematically affected driving performances and physiological responses with significant interactions between them. We validated a practical use of these measures by an elaborated estimation of attentional states of drivers.