Reducing Driver Distraction by Utilizing Augmented Reality Head-Up Display System for Rear Passengers

Long distance travelling and commuting can be particularly tiring for the driver and the rear passengers. The level of driver distraction could be further increased if younger passengers onboard are idle for long time during the drive. This paper presents a novel Augmented Reality (AR) Head-Up Display (HUD) interface that aims to attract rear passengers’ attention through assortment of infotainment applications superimposed on the side car-windows. The system additionally offers a bespoke provision of educational value, which provides superimposed data and games available for the different landmarks. The simplified interface enables the use from younger passengers and seniors alike. The proposed system has undergone two main evaluations involving 50 users and 10 families aiming to identify the system usability. The evaluation took place in a full-scale Virtual Reality driving simulator, which tested the drivers/parents’ ability to avoid collisions. The evaluation outcome offered an informative appraisal of the systems efficiency and overall positive feedback from the users.