Impact of HMI on Driver Behavior and Safety in Rural Work Zones: A Naturalistic Driving Approach

With the rapid development of vehicle-to-everything technology, human–machine interaction (HMI) systems are increasingly used in driving. This study investigates the impact of HMI technology on driving behavior and safety by conducting naturalistic driving experiments, collecting vehicle and eye movement data to assess HMI effectiveness in work zone scenarios. Results show that work zones significantly reduce vehicle efficiency and stability, while HMI warnings enhance drivers’ perception and reaction to road conditions, enabling proactive measures such as speed control and lane changes, which improve driving efficiency and comfort and mitigate some negative effects of work zones. However, HMI warnings may also increase the risk of distraction. Overall, this study highlights the impact of work zones and HMI technology on driving behavior and safety, underscoring the importance of optimizing HMI systems to improve safety in work zone contexts.