Programs & Labs
Usability Evaluation of the Teen Driver Support System
Principal Investigator:
- Janet Creaser, Research Fellow, HumanFIRST Program
Co-Investigator(s):
- Michael Manser, Director, HumanFIRST Program
Project Summary
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities. One approach to reduce fatalities is Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs that limit teens’ exposure to risky situations. However, these programs suffer from weak compliance monitoring because they are based on an honor system and depend on parent reporting. A Teen Driver Support System (TDSS) is currently being developed by the ITS Institute at the University of Minnesota that will allow parents to accurately monitor teens’ driving behavior, with or without GDL restrictions. Additionally, the system provides real-time feedback to drivers about unsafe behaviors that are known risks factors for teen crashes. To develop a successful system, the design process must incorporate testing with potential users to ensure it meets its intended goals. Such an evaluation should focus on the acceptance and usability of the TDSS functions and interfaces by teens and their parents. The goal of this project is to conduct a usability review of the TDSS that will identify the extent to which parents and teens perceive the TDSS to meet proposed expectations for monitoring behavior and increasing safe driving behaviors, with and without GDL restrictions, and to make suggestions for design changes to improve the effectiveness and acceptance of the system.
Sponsor(s):
- ITS Institute (RITA)