Evaluating the effects of in‑vehicle infotainment input modalities on driver distraction

Abstract

Driver distraction from in-vehicle information systems contributes significantly to road accidents. As physical controls (buttons and dials) are increasingly replaced by touchscreens and touchpads, understanding how different input modalities affect driver distraction and performance becomes critical. This study examines the effects of four input modalities (touchscreen, touchpad, button, and dial) on driver distraction. Thirty-seven participants performed secondary tasks using each input modality while driving in a simulator. Driver distraction was assessed using driving performance metrics, task performance, gaze behavior measures, and subjective ratings. Touchscreen and touchpad use resulted in significantly greater lane position variability than button input. All modalities significantly increased the human-machine interface (HMI) fixation and reduced road fixation relative to baseline driving. These findings indicate that the button condition was associated with favorable usability-related outcomes and may inform future investigations of function allocation in vehicle interface design.