Mapping mental load in car driving.

Abstract A system is being developed which permits the identification of traffic locations which impose a heavy mental load on the car driver. The method employs a car equipped with a video-recorder, of which the camera is mounted behind the windscreen, continuously recording the independent variable of traffic load. Dependent variables are physiological indices and performance on a secondary task. This working report is a review of the factors taken into consideration in the preparatory phase of the experiments.