A Study on a Device for Controlling Visual Information to Improve Driver Performance

We aimed to develop a new vehicle device for improving driver performance. In human-subject experiments using a driving simulator we found that optical flow in the near region might cause inaccurate steering, while optical flow in the far region helped to improve the perception of the driving direction, thereby reducing the driver’s workload. Based on these findings, a triangular-shaped occluding board was developed for reducing optical flow in the near region, and installed in an actual vehicle. The device improved the driver’s head stability and steering stability, suggesting that driving performance can be enhanced by controlling visual information.