Effect of Pedestrian Information Using HMI on Driving Characteristics

To reduce the number of traffic fatalities, research and development of safety systems is currently under way. However, drivers are still required to judge traffic situations and operate vehicles safely. Therefore, the aim of this study is to clarify the effect of pedestrian information provided by a human–machine interface (HMI) on driving characteristics under different traffic conditions when vehicles turn right at intersections and drive straight where a pedestrian is crossing. The system is designed to present information on pedestrians to the drivers through the HMI. The experimental results reveal that the presentation of pedestrian information by the HMI increases the time to collision (TTC) and decreases closest distance to the pedestrian at intersections and on straight roads. Thus, it is effective for drivers to ensure safety. In contrast, results reveal that the presentation by the HMI has no effect on increasing the TTC or decreasing the closest distance to the pedestrian in the two types of driving situations; one case where the ego vehicle makes a right turn at the intersection just after the oncoming vehicle turns left, and another case where the ego vehicle goes straight with good visibility. Therefore, for a more effective HMI, a suitable design or timing of pedestrian information should be considered, depending on various traffic environments.