Can Wearable Devices Facilitate a Driver’s Brake Response Time in a Classic Car-Following Task?

Effective warnings of potential collision risks are important countermeasures for drowsy and distracted driving. This study explores the possibility of using smart wearable devices to provide vibrotactile warnings. We assessed the effectiveness of a vibrating wearable device as a warning system. Participants performed a classic car-following task in a driving simulator under four conditions: no warning, warnings at the finger, wrist, temple area. When the lead vehicle braked intermittently, warnings would be delivered to the same vibrating device, which was placed at the finger, wrist, or temple area. Results showed that warnings at the finger and the wrist produced shorter brake response time than the no warning condition. Warnings at the temple area did not produce significant benefits in brake response time over the no warning condition. Participants preferred warnings at the finger and the wrist than the temple area. Quicker brake response time for warnings at the finger and wrist area may be explained by the relative sizes of cortex area in the brain which corresponds to the sensory organs, as visualized by the classic Penfield Homunculus. The current study of wearable tactile warnings can inform future designs of warning systems for drivers.