Driving Behavior during Function Limits of Driver Support Systems (Effects of Comprehension Level for Low-Speed Following System on Driving Behavior)

Abstract

This study examined driving behavior when using limited driving support systems. Specifically, we investigated the effects of driver comprehension level on driving behavior using a low-speed following system in driving simulator experiments. The comprehension level was set to three conditions, “low”, “middle”, and “high”, by the experimenter's instructions. We obtained the following results using two types of system limits. Subjects with a low comprehension level for system limits exhibited greater braking latency when the system reached its support limits, and some of them collided with the preceding vehicle. This is mainly due to low level of driver's situation awareness. Subjects with middle-level comprehension braked as safely as subjects with high comprehension because of same level of driver's situation awareness. By repeating experiences of system limits, the level of driver's situation awareness increased and driver acquired the system limits by oneself.