EFFECTS OF AUTOMATION AND TAKEOVER TIME BUDGET ON YOUNG DRIVERS’ PERFORMANCE AND WORKLOAD
Abstract
Young drivers are involved in higher number of crashes compared to other age groups. Highly automated vehicles are expected to improve traffic safety and reduce human errors. However, there are still concerns about the effects of automation and takeover time budget (TOTB) on driver performance and workload. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of unreliable automation, non-driving related tasks (NDRTs), and TOTB on young drivers’ takeover performance and workload when faced with critical incidents. Twenty-eight young drivers participated in a within-subject driving simulation study. Driver workload was measured using physiological measures including percentage change in pupil size and blink rate, subjective measurement of driver activity load index, and secondary task performance. Driver takeover performance was measured using maximum lateral acceleration, minimum time to collision, and takeover time. Results suggested that when faced with critical incidents, 8s of TOTB might be sufficient for young drivers to safely take over the control of the vehicle. However, providing longer TOTBs (i.e., 10s) can further reduce drivers’ mental workload. Performing a demanding NDRT significantly impaired drivers’ takeover performance and increased their workload. However, the results regarding the effect of automation on drivers’ mental workload and takeover performance were inconclusive, which might be due to short observation periods, and individual or recall biases. The findings of this study can provide guidelines for vehicle manufacturers to improve the design of highly automated vehicles, which can ultimately improve driver performance and reduce workload.
Citation
Shahini, Farzaneh (2021). EFFECTS OF AUTOMATION AND TAKEOVER TIME BUDGET ON YOUNG DRIVERS’ PERFORMANCE AND WORKLOAD. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /195840.