System Attributes that Influence Reported Improvement in Drivers’ Experiences with Adaptive Cruise Control and Active Lane Keeping after Daily Use in Five Production Vehicles

ABSTRACT

Driving automation technology must be used to benefit safety, but little is known about real-world experiences with the technology. Fifty-one Insurance Institute for Highway Safety employees used an Audi A4 or Qty 7, Honda Civic, Infiniti QX60, or Toyota Prius for up to several weeks and completed surveys about their experiences. Each vehicle had adaptive cruise control (ACC), and the Audis and Honda had active lane keeping (ALK). Drivers agreed ACC improved the driving experience more than ALK, but this was not true for all vehicles. Drivers were most comfortable using automation on interstates, and least comfortable using ACC on local roads and ALK on curvy roads. Increased agreement that the technology made gentle, smooth changes to vehicle control predicted increased agreement that it improved the driving experience. Designers should implement automation that makes smooth and gentle changes to steering or speed to improve perceptions of the technology and encourage use.

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Laura Kerfoot for assisting with data collection.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Notes on contributors

David G. Kidd

David G. Kidd is a senior research scientist at the Highway Loss Data Institute. Dr. Kidd studies how drivers use different technologies, and the effects of those technologies on driver behavior, cognition, performance, and safety. Dr Kidd received a doctorate in psychology from George Mason University.

Ian J. Reagan

Ian J. Reagan is a senior research scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Since joining the Institute in 2012, Dr Reagan has conducted research on such topics as crash avoidance technologies and driver distraction. Dr Reagan received a doctorate in psychology from Old Dominion University.