Behavioural adaptation to adaptive cruise control (ACC): implications for preventive strategies

This test-track study assessed whether adaptive cruise control (ACC) induces behavioural adaptation in drivers. Eighteen experienced drivers drove a test vehicle while following a lead vehicle in three counterbalanced conditions: No ACC (self-maintained average headway of 2 s), ACC-Short (headway of 1.4 s) and ACC-Long (headway of 2.4 s). Results demonstrate that ACC can induce behavioural adaptation in drivers in potentially safety-critical ways. Compared to driving unsupported, participants located significantly more items per minute on a secondary task when using ACC, while their response times to a hazard detection task increased. This effect was particularly pronounced in those scoring high on a sensation-seeking scale. Using ACC resulted in significantly more lane position variability, an effect that was also more pronounced in high sensation-seekers. Drivers' trust in ACC increased significantly after using the system, and these ratings did not change despite a simulated failure of the ACC system during the ACC-Long condition. Response time to the simulated ACC failure was related to a driver's locus of control: Externals intervened more slowly than Internals. All drivers reported relying on the ACC system to keep their vehicle at a safe distance from the lead vehicle. Results are consistent with similar research conducted on lane departure warning systems. Driver awareness training is a potential preventive strategy that could minimize the behavioural adaptation associated with novel in-vehicle systems such as ACC. Crown Copyright (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.