Sound of the underground
Coal mines are complex work environments with challenging conditions and a high risk of accidents. Many rely on underground vehicles, with drivers often having to navigate uneven roads, poor lighting and distracting levels of noise, as well as unexpected events and the hazards of the mine. These factors means that auditory alarms in the vehicle cabs aren’t always noticed, increasing the risk of accidents.
Researchers have now examined different types of warning signals to discover their effectiveness and what impact they had on a driver’s cognitive load. They studied 24 drivers – 12 of whom had a lot of experience and 12 of whom were novices – and tested a mix of tactile, auditory and combined auditory-tactile alerts.
A simulator was developed to recreate the conditions of driving the underground transport vehicles. Auditory alerts were sounded using buzzers and a specially designed seat cushion delivered tactile alarms. Participants were asked to carry out three tasks at the same time: driving along a narrow road, avoiding obstacles and a working memory task.
The researchers found that the combined tactile and auditory approach led to better performance than just the auditory warnings. They added: “Importantly, combined alerts significantly improved driver attentional focus and reduced reaction times, particularly for novice drivers.”
The study went on: “For experienced drivers, tactile alerts most effectively alleviated cognitive load under demanding conditions. These findings underscore the significant potential of implementing tactile and combined warning systems to enhance operational safety and strengthen driver awareness ability in underground transport operations.”