Advanced Drunk Driving Prevention Technology Telltale Development

At Westat, they are committed to improving lives through innovative research in health, education, social policy, and transportation. As a part of the Center of Design Research (CDR) at the University of Kansas, as one of the few designers, I will be designing new telltales for Westat's initiative to enhance road safety by alerting drivers about potential alcohol impairment.

Our project involves creating up to 10 unique icons, which will be binary indicator lights, that signal when a driver is near or above the legal alcohol limit or exhibiting behaviors indicative of intoxication.

In our design process, we avoid using words or abbreviations to ensure the icons are universally understandable, considering international markets. We also explore additional alert modalities to complement these visual telltales. Our thorough research into the legal documentation and requirements for telltales guides our decisions regarding the icons’ color, size, and placement on the vehicle’s dashboard, ensuring effective communication and prompt driver response.