Drivers’ interaction with, and perception toward semi-autonomous vehicles in naturalistic settings

Partially automated vehicles are in actual use, and vehicles with higher levels of automation are under development. Given that highly automated vehicles (AVs) still require drivers’ intervention in certain conditions, effective collaboration between the driver and vehicle seems essential for driving safety. Having a clear understanding about drivers’ interactions with the current technologies is key to enhance them. Additionally, comprehending drivers’ perceptions toward AVs investigated in naturalistic settings seems important. This study particularly focuses on usability, workload, and acceptance of AVs as they are key indicators of drivers’ perceptions. Eight drivers conducted manual and automated driving in urban and highway environments. Their interactions and verbal descriptions were recorded, and perceptions were measured after each drive. Instances that may have negatively affected the perceptions were identified. The results showed that workload was higher, usability and acceptance were lower in automated driving in general. Findings show what should be considered to improve driver-autonomous vehicle interaction, in turn to help reduce workload, enhance usability, and acceptance