Influence of ADAS on Driver Distraction

In recent years, research into smart roads has moved from the purely theoretical phase of initial experiments to an increasing number of applications on new or existing roads. However, a high level of digitization in terms of available equipment may lead to a decrease in driving performance and, consequently, have a negative impact on safety. The aim of this study is to define a procedure to determine the impact of these technologies by analyzing the visual behavior of the driver, in order to refine the on-board devices in case of negative feedback. The visual strategy of a sample of users was evaluated during simulated driving. Their behavior, recorded by an eye tracker, showed that the introduction of an On-Board Unit (OBU) makes drivers more aware of the road. In fact, even if the number of fixations towards the OBU increases, the average duration of each fixation decreases and remains below the alarm thresholds indicated in the literature.