Human Factors Research

Our work enhances safety through understanding the human-vehicle relationship. 

Technology: We work to understand and advance vehicle technology and simulation science.

Understanding: We explore methods for improving driver performance and understanding of technology, such as driver training and studying mental models.

Performance: We aim to identify and shift the limits of the human-machine relationship by studying

  • Drowsy and distracted driving
  • Novice or young drivers
  • Older drivers
  • User interfaces 

Mobility: We work to enhance mobility with the use of connected and automated vehicles through research and outreach.

Contact

John Gaspar

John Gaspar

Title/Position
Director of Human Factors Research

News: Human Factors

An aerial view of two women sitting in the front of a Volvo XC90 while using adaptive cruise control/

The ADAS experts

Monday, February 12, 2024
Our investigators have been working on a series of studies analyzing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technology and consumer understanding of ADAS features.
2023 Annual Report cover

2023: A Year in Review

Monday, January 1, 2024
Check out our recent highlights and accomplishments from the Driving Safety Research Institute, home of the National Advanced Driving Simulator.
Drowsy driver

University of Iowa research sheds light on drowsy driving, including risk factors, sleepiness questionnaires & ADAS applications

Monday, July 31, 2023
Drowsy driving is thought to be a probable cause in almost 40% of investigated highway crashes. While our researchers found that notifications do little to change driver performance, nothing replaces quality sleep before a long drive.
Voice Control Buttons

An alternative to touchscreens? In-car voice control is finally good

Thursday, February 16, 2023
This Ars Technica article features commentary from University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute director, Daniel McGehee.
Camry cab inside the NADS-1 simulator

Taking control in Level 3 Automation

Thursday, January 26, 2023
This article summarizes findings from two recent studies that our researchers have worked on with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) examining the various aspects of transition of control (TOC) between human drivers and periods of automated driving.
NBC News screenshot

NBC National News: Are car touchscreens distracting drivers?

Tuesday, January 17, 2023
We were recently featured in an NBC National News segment about vehicle touchscreens and distracted driving. Watch and find out how distracting touchscreens and cell phones are to drivers.
2022 NADS Annual Report cover

2022 Annual Report now available

Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Our 2022 annual report is here! We have spent the past year researching automated vehicles, traffic safety, drugged driving, and much more. Plus, read about our upcoming name change to "Driving Safety Research Institute" on page 3.
Inside NADS-1 simulator

NADS lands contract with NHTSA for automated vehicle research

Thursday, October 20, 2022
The University of Iowa National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) has secured a contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a project that will look at roadway interactions between human-driven and automated vehicles.
Justin Mason in the NADS control room

NADS welcomes new assistant research scientist Justin Mason

Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Help us welcome our new assistant research scientist Justin Mason. Check out this quick Q&A to learn more about what drives Mason's research and why he chose the University of Iowa.
gray and blue screen with white text "surviving bad"

The Science of Distracted Driving

Thursday, June 16, 2022
The Science of Distracted Driving with Dr. Daniel McGehee – National Advanced Driving Simulator. Professor Daniel McGehee from the National Advanced Driving Simulator at the University of Iowa joins us to talk about the science of distracted driving, multi-tasking, and safety.
2021 NADS Annual Report

A year in review: Rural roads, drowsy driving, cannabis, and more

Tuesday, January 4, 2022
See what we’ve been up to in the past year in our NADS Annual Report, with stories about ADS for Rural America, driving drowsy, regenerative braking safety benefits, cannabis and driving, and more. 

O’Neal receives NICHD award to further study teen driving safety

Friday, May 21, 2021
Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth O'Neal, a postdoctoral research scholar at the National Advanced Driving Simulator and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, for receiving a K99/R00 Award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
KCRG TV9 News with John Gaspar at NADS

Iowa State Patrol focus on bad driving habits with enforcement project, say distracted driving plays a role

Thursday, April 29, 2021
KCRG TV9 News reports on the rise in distracted driving, what law enforcement has seen, and the research being done on distracted driving at the University of Iowa National Advanced Driving Simulator.
KWWL: distracted driving

Expert says driver distraction is becoming more dangerous in Iowa

Tuesday, April 27, 2021
NADS Director Dan McGehee talks with KWWL on the dangers of distracted driving, especially on Iowa's unforgiving roads.
Distracted driving research

NADS researchers work to understand driver distraction and make roads safer

Thursday, April 22, 2021
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. 3,142 people were killed from distracted driving in 2019 – a 10% increase from 2018. NADS researchers work to reverse that trend.
Cameras mounted on the exterior of the driver and passenger side doors capture lane position.

Medical research meets driving research

Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Does exercise change driving performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease? 
Teen driver study

Teens at the wheel

Wednesday, January 20, 2021
When parents are in the vehicle with their teenage driver, crash rates are low. However, as soon as teens are by themselves, the crash rates skyrocket. Can new-driver training programs be used to effectively lower those rates?

KGAN: New driving behavior a concern heading into winter

Friday, November 20, 2020
Changing driver behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic in combination with dangerous winter conditions raises concern for many driving safety officials in the state of Iowa. Driving Safety Research Institute director, Daniel McGehee discusses the dangers of speed and the changes in driver behavior due to the pandemic.
Inside the NADS-1 simulator

NADS pulls in nearly $1.5M to further study transition of control in automated vehicles

Thursday, October 15, 2020
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) recently granted the University of Iowa National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) a $1.45 million award to further study transition of control in automated vehicles in a simulation environment.

Car and Driver Magazine: We Take an $80 Million Driving Simulator for a Spin

Saturday, July 11, 2020
The University of Iowa uses a Toyota Camry and a lot of tech to study how humans interact with the future. We went for a drive.

Touch screens in cars are distracting, so why do we keep putting them there?

Saturday, October 19, 2019
Daniel McGehee is a human factors engineer and director of the National Advanced Driving Simulator at the University of Iowa, where he studies distracted driving and specializes in figuring out how to design vehicle interfaces around human limitations, such as memory and vision.

9 signs you could be a distracted driver

Wednesday, April 24, 2019
This Gazette article asks a big question "Are you a distracted driver?" Learn what distracted driving really means and how you can take the steps to be a more aware and less distracted driver.

Tractor simulator studies farm safety

Thursday, March 7, 2019
Farming is the most dangerous domestic job in the United States, nearly a hundred agricultural workers are injured every day. In particular, operating large, heavy machines can hurt or kill farmers but researchers at the University of Iowa are trying to learn more to save lives.

Steering Iowa toward automated vehicles

Friday, March 1, 2019
This Gazette article explores the future of automated vehicles in rural states like Iowa and gives a brief overview of the new research being done in Iowa by researchers at the Driving Safety Research Institute.

Talking to teens can lead to safer driving

Saturday, February 9, 2019
A study from the University of Iowa National Advanced Driving Simulator finds that the use of video monitoring technology combined with parents talking to their teens about safe driving motivates young drivers to be safer.