Driver distraction is an important contributing factor to increase crash risks. The effect of secondary task engagement may vary by interaction types and driver age. Thus, it is essential to understand the impacts of distraction type and age on driving performance for improving the safety of in-vehicle secondary task design. This paper aims to assess potential risks induced by visual and auditory secondary tasks while driving. Thirty drivers, consisted of fifteen younger drivers aged 25 ∼ 35 and fifteen older aged 60 ∼ 69, were recruited and asked to drive in a simulator. They conducted two driving sessions, one for visually distracted driving and the other for cognitive distraction. The order in which secondary tasks were presented was counter-balanced. Driving performance and behaviour data were collected continuously using multiple measurement devices for vehicle speed, lane position, electrocardiogram, and gaze pattern. Differences in younger and older drivers’ performance while conducting the secondary tasks were compared. The result indicated that the effect of interaction types, i.e., visual and auditory, on older drivers’ performance was significant. More difficult secondary task creates greater age difference in driving performance. However, eye movement and physiological response were not significantly different between younger and older drivers. This result could suggest older drivers’ lower risk awareness of cognitive distraction.

驾驶员分心是增加碰撞风险的重要因素。次要任务参与的影响可能会因交互类型和驾驶员年龄而异。因此，必须了解分散注意力的类型和年龄对驾驶性能的影响，以提高车载辅助任务设计的安全性。本文旨在评估驾驶时视觉和听觉次要任务引起的潜在风险。招募了30名驾驶员，其中包括15名年龄在25-35岁之间的年轻驾驶员和15名年龄在60-69岁之间的老年驾驶员，并要求他们在模拟器中驾驶。他们进行了两次驾驶练习，一次用于视觉分散注意力，另一次用于认知分散注意力。提出次要任务的顺序是相互抵消的。使用多种测量装置连续收集驾驶性能和行为数据，以测量车速，车道位置，心电图和注视模式。比较了执行次要任务时年轻驾驶员和老年驾驶员的性能差异。结果表明，交互类型（即视觉和听觉）对年长驾驶员性能的影响是显着的。更高难度的次要任务会在驾驶性能上产生更大的年龄差异。但是，无论年龄大小，驾驶员的眼球运动和生理反应均无显着差异。这一结果可能表明，老年驾驶员对认知分心的风险较低。比较了执行次要任务时年轻驾驶员和老年驾驶员的性能差异。结果表明，交互类型（即视觉和听觉）对年长驾驶员性能的影响是显着的。更高难度的次要任务会在驾驶性能上产生更大的年龄差异。但是，无论年龄大小，驾驶员的眼球运动和生理反应均无显着差异。这一结果可能表明，老年驾驶员对认知分心的风险较低。比较了执行次要任务时年轻驾驶员和老年驾驶员的性能差异。结果表明，交互类型（即视觉和听觉）对年长驾驶员性能的影响是显着的。更高难度的次要任务会在驾驶性能上产生更大的年龄差异。但是，无论年龄大小，驾驶员的眼球运动和生理反应均无显着差异。这一结果可能表明，老年驾驶员对认知分心的风险较低。年轻人和老年人之间的眼睛运动和生理反应没有显着差异。这一结果可能表明，老年驾驶员对认知分心的风险意识较低。年轻人和老年人之间的眼睛运动和生理反应没有显着差异。这一结果可能表明，老年驾驶员对认知分心的风险较低。