The box task - a method for assessing in-vehicle system demand.

The use of advanced in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) and other complex devices such as smartphones while driving can lead to driver distraction, which, in turn, increases safety-critical event risk. Therefore, using methods for measuring driver distraction caused by IVIS is crucial when developing new in-vehicle systems. In this paper, we present the setup and implementation of the Box Task combined with a Detection Response Task (BT+DRT) as a tool to assess visual-manual and cognitive distraction effects. The BT+DRT represents a low-cost and easy-to-use method which can be easily implemented by researchers in laboratory settings and which was validated in previous research. Moreover, at the end of this paper we describe the experimental procedure, the data analysis and discuss potential modifications of the method.•The setup and implementation of the Box Task combined with a Detection Response Task (BT+DRT) is described.•The method allows for measuring visual-manual and cognitive distraction of drivers.•The BT+DRT is a cost-effective and easy-to-use method that can be implemented in laboratory settings or driving simulators.

Measuring driver distraction - Evaluation of the box task method as a tool for assessing in-vehicle system demand.

Several tools have been developed over the past twenty years to assess the degree of driver distraction caused by secondary task engagement. A relatively new and promising method in this area is the box task combined with a detection response task (BT + DRT). However, no evaluation regarding the BT's sensitivity currently exists. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the BT + DRT by comparing its sensitivity to the sensitivity of already established methods. Twenty-nine participants engaged in several artificial and realistic secondary tasks while either performing the BT + DRT, the Lane Change Test (LCT), or driving through a simple course in a simulator. The results showed that the BT parameters (especially the standard deviation of box position and size) were sensitive to differences in demand across the visual-manual secondary tasks. This was comparable to what was found with the LCT. Surprisingly, the BT performance measures were more sensitive than those of the driving simulation task. The BT + DRT also captured cognitive distraction effects with the integration of the DRT. Hence, the BT + DRT could be a cost-effective method to assess in-vehicle system demand. However, further investigations are necessary to better understand the potential of the BT method.