The effect on driver workload, attitudes and acceptability of In-vehicle Intelligent Transport Systems: Selected final results from the TAC SafeCar project

As part of the Australian TAC SafeCar on-road study, 15 Ford vehicles were equipped with Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA), Following Distance Warning (FDW), Reverse Collision Warning (RCW), and Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) systems. The primary aim of the study was to assess whether long-term exposure to these systems leads to a change in measurable driving performance. As a supplement to the objective measurements of driving performance, a series of questionnaires was administered throughout the study to collect subjective data. These questionnaires were designed to evaluate:

1. changes in driver attitudes attributable to ITS exposure;

2. the effect of the ITS on the workload drivers experience while performing certain driving tasks; and

3. the acceptability of the ITS, in terms of usefulness, effectiveness, social acceptability, affordability and usability.

Twenty-three drivers were recruited to participate in the study and each drove one of the ITS equipped cars for 16,500km. The purpose of the current paper is to report a selection of the more interesting results from the subjective data collected in the TAC SafeCar on-road study. Potential barriers to uptake and acceptance of the various ITS are discussed. The final results pertaining to the effects of the SafeCar technologies on driving performance are reported in a companion paper presented at this conference.