Work title: The response of the visual system when driving a car in real conditions and in a simulator during a parallel motor task. Aims: To implement a laboratory measurement in a driving simulator and in real conditions during a parallel motor task. To track the response of the visual system during the task and to determine potential differences in the response of the visual system and in the speed in the simulator and in the real car environment. Methods: The laboratory measurement was realized in a driving simulator OCTAVIA II. The measurement in real conditions was realized in Škoda Octavia as well. The eye-tracking method was used to track the drivers` eyes. Results: In the simulator the more experienced driver managed to do the parallel motor task within a shorter period of time than the less experienced driver, lower frequency of looks at the radio during the tasks with the more experienced driver was not proved. There was not an evidence of more balanced speed during the drive with the more experienced driver in the simulator. On the average the driver spent shorter time doing the tasks in the real environment than in the simulator and the total number of looks at the radio was lower. The speed of the drive in the real environment was lower than the speed in the simulator. Key words:...

The 85th percentile off-road glances while performing three tasks on an in-vehicle system while driving in a simulator was investigated. The tasks were a radio task, a telephone task and a sound settings task which were performed at three occasions each. The distribution of 85th percentile off-road glance durations for each subject and task showed that durations differed between individuals rather than between tasks. It also turned out that durations longer than 2.00 seconds were not rare and 2 of 16 subjects had durations longer than 2.00 seconds in the radio task. Even though the distribution showed small differences between tasks on an individual level, differences on a group level were found between the tasks. A tendency of a learning effect was found, which implied a decrease in 85th percentile off-road glance durations as the tasks were performed at several occasions. A tendency of a floor effect in 85th percentile off-road glance durations, when the subjects are familiarized with tasks, was also found. Performance on a computerized trail-making test, measuring ability of visual search, motor speed and mental flexibility, was found not to be related with 85th percentile off-road glance durations.

The aim of this PhD thesis was to investigate traffic safety and mobility for individuals with hearing loss (HL). Three studies were conducted: 1. a questionnaire survey aimed to evaluate differences in choice of transportation that might be related to HL, 2. a driving simulator study that looked into compensatory strategies and evaluated the efficiency of a tactile signal to alert the driver, and 3. a field study to evaluate these effects in real traffic and to evaluate a navigation system with a supportive tactile signal. The effects of HL discovered in this thesis add to the knowledge and understanding of the influence of HL on traffic safety and mobility. Differences found consistently point to a generally more cautious behavior. Compensatory and coping strategies associated with HL are bound to driving complexity and appear when complexity increases. These strategies include driving at lower speeds, using a more comprehensive visual search behavior and being less engaged in distracting activities. Evaluation of a tactile signal showed that by adding a tactile modality, some driver assistance systems can also be made accessible to drivers with HL. At the same time, the systems might be more effective for all users, since the driver can be more focused on the road. Based on the results in this thesis, drivers with HL cannot be considered an increased traffic safety risk, and there should be no need for adjustments of the requirements of hearing for a license to drive a car. / Syftet med den här doktorsavhandlingen var att undersöka trafiksäkerhet och mobilitet för individer med hörselnedsättning (HN). Tre studier har genomförts: 1. en enkätstudie för att undersöka skillnader i transportvanor relaterade till HN, 2. en körsimulatorstudie for att titta på kompensatoriska strategier och utvärdera effektiviteten i en taktil signal för att påkalla förarens uppmärksamhet och 3. en fältstudie för att undersöka effekterna i riktig trafik samt utvärdera ett navigationssystem med en taktil signal som stöd för navigering. Effekterna av HN som kom fram i denna avhandling bidrar till kunskapen och förståelsen för hur HN påverkar trafiksäkerhet och mobilitet. De funna skillnaderna pekar konsistent mot ett generelltmera försiktigt beteende. Kompensatoriska - och copingstrategier förknippade med HN beror på körkomplexitet och observeras när komplexiteten ökar. Dessa strategier innebär körning med lägre hastighet, mera heltäckande visuell avsökning och mindre engagemang i distraherande uppgifter. Utvärdering av en taktil signal visade att genom att lägga till en taktil modalitet kan vissa förarstödsystem bli tillgängliga även för förare med HN. Samtidigt kan systemen bli mera effektiva för alla användare eftersom föraren då kan fokusera mera på vägen. Baserat på resultaten i den här avhandlingen kan inte förare med HN betraktas som någon förhöjd risk och det bör därmed inte finnas något behov av att justera hörselkraven när det gäller körkortsinnehav.

This diploma thesis focuses on a traffic simulator design. The matter of simulation methods is described here as well as a project of a town model, road system and its usage in an implementation in a traffic simulator. The work further explains the principles and techniques for creation of the town model in an editor and it analyzes traffic rules that are necessary for the creation of the simulator of this type. The created simulator uses various engines for its functioning. It would not be possible to continue in further work without their proper adjustment. That is why the installation of the used engines is described in the thesis. Principles of 3D model and texture usage are also explained.