Real-world Use of Automated Driving Systems and their Safety Consequences
Automated driving systems (ADSs) have the potential to fundamentally transform transportation by reducing crashes, congestion, and cost while improving traffic efficiency and access to mobility for the transportation-challenged population. However, people may not use ADS as intended due to their misunderstanding of such systems’ capabilities and limitations. Recent news articles, reporting Tesla drivers napping behind the wheel, suggest the need for a better understanding of how people are using ADSs as well as what benefits and consequence that such systems have on transportation safety. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the (1) limitations of automated longitudinal and lateral control features (e.g., adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance) found in real-world operation, (2) unintended use of such systems and their safety consequences, as well as (3) driver perception of these novel technologies. For this purpose, this study will leverage data collected from 50 participants who drove personally owned vehicles equipped with ADSs for 12 months. The work is expected to contribute to a greater understanding of the prevalence and safety consequences of ADS use on public roadways, as well as drivers’ perception of the early production ADS. The findings from this project may further inform the development of human-machine interfaces, training programs, and owners’ manuals to reduce unintended use of ADSs and negative consequences. The identified characteristics of the situations when the driving automation requested human drivers’ intervention or failed without alerts will further inform the development of testing scenarios to ensure ADS safety.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $80326
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Contract Numbers:
69A3551747115
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Safety through Disruption University Transportation Center (Safe-D)
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Blacksburg, VA United States 24060 -
Project Managers:
Harwood, Leslie
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Performing Organizations:
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
3500 Transportation Research Plaza
Blacksburg, Virginia United States 24061 -
Principal Investigators:
Kim, Hyungil
- Start Date: 20191101
- Expected Completion Date: 20200730
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Adaptive control; Automated vehicle control; Autonomous vehicle handover; Autonomous vehicles; Driver support systems; Drivers; Highway safety; Perception
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01727171
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Safety through Disruption University Transportation Center (Safe-D)
- Contract Numbers: 69A3551747115
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Jan 2 2020 12:33PM