Citation

Kim H, Song M, Doerzaph Z. Transp. Res. Rec. 2022; 2676(1): 30-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/03611981211027150

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Advanced driver assistance systems with SAE Level 2 automated capabilities have entered the vehicle marketplace. Such driving automation systems (DASs) have the potential to fundamentally change the driving experience through automated lateral and longitudinal vehicle control. However, drivers may not use DASs as intended because of their misunderstanding of the systems' capabilities and limitations. Moreover, the real-world use and effects of this novel technology on transportation safety are largely unknown. To investigate driver interactions with driving automation, the study examined existing naturalistic driving data collected from 50 participants who drove personally owned vehicles with Level 2 DASs for 12 months. It was found that 47 out of 235 safety-critical events (SCEs) involved DAS use. An in-depth analysis of 47 SCEs revealed that people misused DASs in 57% of SCEs (e.g., engaged in secondary tasks, used the systems not on highways or with hands off the wheel). During 13% of SCEs, the systems neither reacted to the situation nor warned the driver. A post-study survey showed that the participants found DASs useful and usable. However, the greater the positive attitude toward DAS features, the more participants felt comfortable engaging in secondary tasks. This is a potential unintended side effect of Level 2 DASs given that they still rely on the human driver's supervision. This study also captured some scenarios where DASs did not meet driver expectations in typical driving situations, such as approaching stopped vehicles and negotiating curves. The findings may inform the development of human-machine interfaces and training programs to reduce the unintended use of DASs and their safety consequences.

Language: en