Assessing driver engagement in assisted driving: Insights from Pilot Evaluation, Focus Groups and driving simulator testing

Abstract: Automated driving assistance systems (ADAS) have become increasingly prevalent in consumer vehicles, particularly at L2 level, offering various degrees of safety and comfort. However, many concerns arise regarding driver attention and engagement, as drivers may not fully understand the system limitations and their continued responsibility for vehicle control. For this reason, driver engagement is a topic of significant interest in the context of ADAS development. The European Commission is already working on future regulations regarding the integration of advanced L2 systems from a safe driving perspective, as is the NHTSA in the US. Driver engagement is included in the EuroNCAP 2030 roadmap and is also being considered as one of the criteria for the assessment of Smart Cockpit according to C-ICAP (2023). This work introduces a methodology aimed at evaluating driver engagement, which combines proving ground testing, focus groups, and dynamic driving simulator testing. Proving ground testing combines subjective metrics such as mental workload and trust, together with objective measures like Time to Collision (TTC). Results indicate differences in driver engagement between medium and advanced level 2 systems, with participants showing higher trust and lower mental workload in advanced L2 systems. Focus groups highlight generational differences in perceptions of ADAS, with younger participants demonstrating higher trust and acceptance. Also, situational awareness emerges as an important factor for a proper engagement. The upcoming driving simulator phase seeks to validate these findings in a controlled environment, integrating physiological measures and eye-tracking. Future steps include conducting cross-cultural studies to capture diverse driving habits and preferences.

Keywords: Driver Engagement, Cross, Cultural, Assisted Driving, Focus Group, Subjective Assessment, Trust, Workload.

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005781

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