Effects of e-map format and sub-windows on driving performance and glance behavior when using an in-vehicle navigation system

An on-road driving experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of e-map format and sub-windows on driving performance and glance behavior of navigation system users. Twenty-eight participants navigated an urban route using the navigation display with 2D or 3D e-maps and either with or without sub-windows. Driver navigation errors and visual glance data were gathered during the trials. The analytical results demonstrate no significant difference in driving performance between the 2D and 3D e-map conditions. However, use of a 3D e-map was associated with significantly more frequent glance behavior than the 2D display. Furthermore, subjects using the navigation display with a sub-window made significantly fewer navigation errors (50% less) compared to those using the navigation display without a sub-window. This investigation suggests that performance improves when using sub-windows. Finally, this study discusses wider implications in the design and use of navigation displays.Relevance to industryWe found that the e-map format is related to driver glance behavior when using an in-vehicle navigation display. The sub-window also provides substantial influence on driving performance and glance behavior. The results of our study will assist in designing in-vehicle navigation systems and improving the performance of navigation e-maps for path-finding tasks.