Variation in driving controls and in-vehicle information systems: Impact on fleet drivers

This project investigated the issues faced by fleet drivers changing from a car model with less technological features to one with new sets of controls with new functions and back again on a regular basis. The impact of driver’s existing mental models have not been given enough recognition as introducing higher levels of risk due to increased variation in driver controls and interfaces. Under stressful situations a fleet driver may react by reverting back to control expectations formed on a previous car resulting in incorrect control selections in the current car. Time spent familiarising drivers with different controls to build new and relevant automaticity is essential.

Research Aims:
• Provide organisations with information on the strengths/limitations of their current fleet safety policies in relations to fleet variations.
• Highlight areas where driver performance can be improved in terms of learning about and interacting with variations in controls and in-vehicle information systems.
• Recommendations on proactive training improvements to target car variations to achieve performance improvement when drivers change between vehicles in the fleet.