WARREN, Mich.—General Motors Corp. and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign announced they plan to conduct a multi-year driver distraction study.
GM Research & Development will spend more than $1.6 million during the next three years. Using techniques such as measuring eye-glance movements, researchers will evaluate how prepared drivers are in coping with distractions, as well as the dynamics of how effectively humans interact with the mechanics of the vehicle.
They also will evaluate the effectiveness of training strategies for enhancing drivers’ cognitive, perceptual and motor skills, especially those of older adults and inexperienced drivers.
“We know that technology will never replace the good judgement of a driver. However, we hope to use the results of this research to mitigate potential in-vehicle distractions, and help drivers manage other distractions more effectively,” said Robert Lange, GM executive director of structure and safety integration.
