Exploratory Study of Early Adopters, Safety-Related Driving with Advanced Technologies. Draft Final Task 2 Report: In-Vehicle Systems Inventory, Recruitment Methods & Approaches, and Owner Interview Results

Exploratory work was undertaken to study driver real world experiences associated with the use of advanced technologies currently available in production automobiles (e.g., Adaptive Cruise Control, night vision, park aid, and navigation systems). The effort involved identifying and interviewing so called “early technology adopters” (owners of recently introduced in-vehicle technologies) in order to provide insights into driver acceptance and adaptation to these types of systems. Although the current effort included a substantial data collection effort, its primary role was as a feasibility study intended to determine successful methods and approaches for identifying and contacting system owners which could be successfully used in future large-scale and representative data collection efforts. A total of 480 vehicle owners were recruited to participate, resulting in 691 completed interviews. Evidence suggests that some form or degree of driver behavioral adaptation occurred for each of the systems examined. Some changes represented improvements (e.g., enhanced ability to detect obstacles at night or behind the vehicle, etc.) while others led to potentially riskier driving practices (e.g., longer glances away from the forward roadway, etc.). Many drivers were found to hold misconceptions about the performance capabilities of their advanced systems, suggesting that drivers’ mental models of how these systems function do not always match reality. Information gathered can lead to improved designs and educational programs to ensure that drivers understand device functions, capabilities and limitations, and can also serve as an early indication of the safety benefits or problems that new technologies may bring when they are more fully deployed in the light vehicle fleet.

• Record URL:
  http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NRD/Multimedia/PDFs/Crash Avoidance/2006/DOTHS_809972.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Westat

  1650 Research Boulevard
  Rockville, MD  United States  20850

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Llaneras, Robert E
• Publication Date: 2006-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Draft Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 182p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile navigation systems; Autonomous intelligent cruise control; Consumers; Data collection; Driver support systems; Drivers; Highway safety; Interviewing; Motor vehicle navigational aids; Night vision devices; Psychological adaptation
• Uncontrolled Terms: In-vehicle devices; In-vehicle technologies
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01095912
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-809 972
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-99-D-07005
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 2 2008 4:15PM