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Ina Koniakowsky wins Best Student Award at DDI 2024

Oct, 24 2024

We are happy to congratulate Ina Koniakowsky , BMW Group, for winning the prestigious Best Student Award at the 9th International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention (DDI 2024)!

Her presentation The Role of Mental Models on the Effectiveness of Driver Monitoring Systems in Reducing Driver Distraction: Insights from a Driving Simulator Study 1, focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of a driver monitoring system (DMS) in reducing driver distraction, particularly in addressing Long Distraction (LD) and Visual Attention Time Sharing (VATS), through a driving simulator experiment, which showcase important contributions to the field of traffic safety.

This year, seven outstanding students were nominated for the award, each delivering innovative research and impressive presentations that left a significant impact on the field. The nominees are:

  • Ali Arabian, University of Leeds: Asynchrony of directional auditory warnings and visual information in driving: analysis of eye movement patterns and driver responses.
  • Anna Warchoł-Jakubowska, Uniwersytet SWPS: Exploring visual attention dynamics in tram driving. Differentiating between expert and novice drivers for gaze-enhanced training.
  • Ina Marie Koniakowsky, BMW Group: The role of mental models on the effectiveness of driver monitoring systems in reducing driver distraction: insights from a driving simulator study.
  • Myriam Metzulat, Würzburger Institut für Verkehrswissenschaften GmbH (WIVW): Still fit to drive? - How car sickness affects takeover and driving performance.
  • Nikita Rajendra Sharma, TU Dortmund University: Effect of conflicting information on driving behaviour in a lane change task.
  • Rory Coyne, University of Galway & Tobii: Examining driver fatigue during conditionally automated driving using contactless physiological measurement.
  • Yee Thung Lee, University of Leeds: Using a driving simulator study to evaluate drivers' hazard avoidance under different automation levels during day- and night-time conditions.

The jury, comprised of the conference co-chairs Jonas Bärgman, Michael Regan, Alexandra Fort, Christophe Jallais, and James Sayer, along with select members of the Scientific Committee, evaluated both the quality of the abstract, research, oral presentation, oral expression and the students' ability to engage with the audience, manage time, and respond to questions.

The Best Student Award includes a USD 500 prize, a diploma, and free registration for the next DDI conference in 2026. The award ceremony took place during the closing session on October 24th, marking a fitting end to a successful conference.

Congratulations to the winner and all nominees for their exceptional work and contributions to advancing traffic safety!