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
Title/Position
Director of Human Factors Research
News: Human Factors
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.
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.
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.
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.
Medical research meets driving research
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Does exercise change driving performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease?
Countermeasures to reduce drowsy driving
Monday, January 25, 2021
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.