News

The program for the 10th International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention (DDI 2026) is now taking shape – and on 20–22 October, Gothenburg will once again become a meeting place for the international DDI community.

Hosted at Lindholmen Conference Centre, DDI 2026 will bring together researchers, industry, authorities and practitioners from around the world to explore the latest research, methods, technologies and challenges related to driver distraction, attention, human factors, automation and traffic safety.

This year also marks the 10th edition of DDI, making the Gothenburg conference a special anniversary for a research community that continues to evolve alongside rapid developments in vehicle technology and driver monitoring.

From attention theory to the future of Driver Monitoring
Two keynote speakers will provide perspectives from both research and vehicle safety assessment.

• Katja Kircher, VTI, will give the keynote “From Distraction to Attention: Theory and Applications”, shifting the perspective from defining what distracts drivers towards understanding the attention that is actually required for safe driving.
• Adriano Palao, Euro NCAP, will present “Euro NCAP Driver Monitoring Framework for 2029”, providing a forward-looking perspective on how driver monitoring and attention are becoming increasingly important parts of vehicle safety assessment.

A broad scientific program
At the heart of DDI is, as always, the science. Across ten scientific sessions, researchers will present and discuss new findings, methods and approaches. Accepted contributions have undergone a two-stage double-blind review process involving at least two members of the Scientific Committee followed by evaluation by the conference Co-Chairs.

The oral presentations are complemented by a dedicated poster session, providing further opportunities for discussion and exchange between researchers. Selected student contributions will also compete for the Best Student Contribution Award, with the winner receiving €500 and complimentary registration to DDI 2028.

Two panel discussions on questions shaping the field
The program also includes two extended panel discussions addressing topics where research, technology, regulation and real-world implementation meet.

• “The touchscreen takeover: Can ‘glass’ be safe enough?” will explore the continuing shift towards touchscreen-based vehicle interfaces and what this means for usability, attention and safety.
• “The assessment of DMS-based systems – what’s needed?” turns to Driver Monitoring Systems and the challenge of assessing whether increasingly sophisticated systems actually deliver the intended safety benefits.

Both sessions are designed to create dialogue between different perspectives rather than simply provide another series of presentations.

Starting before the conference even opens
For those wanting to dive deeper, activities begin already on the morning of 20 October, before the formal conference opening.

One of the pre-conference activities is “Approaches to Supporting Driver Attention”, hosted by Bryan Reimer and colleagues from MIT AgeLab, JLR, CARIAD and Touchstone Evaluations. The session takes a broader industry perspective on how to move from simply limiting distraction towards more proactive and context-sensitive approaches to supporting driver attention. The format combines framing, moderated panels and discussion.

The pre-conference morning also features a second, more hands-on workshop focusing on methods for assessing Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS). Rather than another traditional presentation session, the workshop is designed around a smaller group and active exchange between participants. Participants will briefly share different approaches to DMS assessment, followed by joint discussion of their respective strengths, limitations and practical challenges. 

With Driver Monitoring becoming an increasingly important part of both vehicle development and safety assessment, the workshop provides an opportunity to compare methods, challenge assumptions and identify what is still missing – bringing together expertise from across the DDI community.

Beyond the conference room
DDI 2026 is also very much about meeting the community and experiencing Gothenburg's mobility and safety ecosystem. The social and technical program includes a Welcome Reception at Börsen, hosted by the City of Gothenburg, as well as the conference dinner, a technical visit to Smart Eye and a study tour to World of Volvo.

Strong international interest
Interest in this year's conference is already strong. At the beginning of September, close to 150 participants had registered, which the Organising Committee considered a very positive number at this stage of registration.

With the program now taking shape, DDI 2026 promises three days combining new research, challenging discussions, industry perspectives, emerging technology and international networking – and a special opportunity to celebrate the 10th edition of the conference together with the DDI community in Gothenburg.

👉 Explore the full DDI 2026 program here: Program – DDI 2026

🎟️ Registration is open: Registration – DDI 2026

Welcome to Gothenburg, 20–22 October 2026!