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Drivers of "Driverless" Vehicles: A Human Factors Study of Connected and Automated Vehicle Technologies

El-Dabaja, Sarah S.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7007-0624
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1576670482075765

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Civil Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
This study was performed with the intent of investigating two primary aspects of human factors in connected and automated vehicles (CV/AVs), specifically drivers’ physical interactions with CV applications, AV driving, and an AV failure as well as drivers’ perceptions of CV/AV technologies. Drivers’ interactions with CV applications (Dynamic Speed Harmonization and Emergency Electronic Brake Lights) and a highly-AV during normal driving and failure were quantified using data obtained from driving simulator scenarios taking place in a rural freeway environment. Drivers’ perceptions of CV/AV were ascertained through survey responses from an Ohio University case study, which led to the development of relationships describing drivers’ opinions based upon their socioeconomic/demographic characteristics and driving tendencies. Following a series of statistical analyses, a multitude of insights into drivers’ reactions and perceptions were obtained. These insights are enumerated throughout this dissertation, from which the following general conclusions and suggestions have been derived. First, drivers’ behaviors seem to be positively impacted by the CV applications, but negatively impacted by a 10-minute period of AV driving. The CV applications were observed to improve drivers’ speed compliance and reduce collision risk; however, AV driving appeared to induce fatigue and distraction among drivers. Not only did AV driving significantly impact drivers’ velocity, acceleration, gaze, and fatigue, but this relatively brief period of AV driving even degraded drivers’ ability to maintain stable control of the vehicle, with velocity, acceleration, steering, and lane position becoming more erratic. Second, drivers’ reactions to a sudden, total disengagement of the AV system, indicated that drivers require an average of 12.30 sec (29.26 sec for 90th percentile) perception-reaction time (PRT) to the first reaction, which was steering. However, even after this initial PRT, drivers still needed an additional 6 sec (11.6 sec for 90th percentile) to regain longitudinal control, bringing the time to full control (TFC) to 18.26 sec (40.86 sec for 90th percentile). Interestingly, drivers’ PRT and TFC was not significantly impacted by driver characteristics nor NDRT status. These findings have led to the proposal of formal drivers’ education to increase acceptance and prepare drivers for this new era of CV/AV driving as well as a potential framework for an AV failure recovery system, which is anticipated to promote redundancy and alleviate some of the uncertainty associated with an abrupt AV disengagement resulting from a failure. Finally, it appears that drivers are optimistic about both CVs and AVs, although this positive outlook is more noticeable in the case of CVs. Drivers have expressed reservations about entrusting AVs with all driving-related tasks and still desire manual controls and override options. Drivers also voiced concerns with the security of the new technologies, but were more concerned with the integrity of the system itself than with the potential for malicious hacking. The feelings of acceptance among drivers were determined to be influenced by fear, previous advanced driver assistance use, gender, urban/rural classification, and driving experience, although acceptance of AVs was also impacted by expectations for the technologies’ capabilities (which was associated with level of education) and age. It appears that males, young drivers, drivers with less experience, drivers that make shorter daily trips, and drivers that have previously used ADAS are more willing to drive CV/AVs.
Bhaven Naik (Advisor)
Deborah McAvoy (Committee Member)
Sang-Soo Kim (Committee Member)
Julie Owens (Committee Member)
Gursel Suer (Committee Member)
397 p.
Civil Engineering
connected vehicles; automated vehicles; human factors; driver reactions; AV failure; driver opinions

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • El-Dabaja, S. S. (2020). Drivers of "Driverless" Vehicles: A Human Factors Study of Connected and Automated Vehicle Technologies [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1576670482075765

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • El-Dabaja, Sarah. Drivers of "Driverless" Vehicles: A Human Factors Study of Connected and Automated Vehicle Technologies. 2020. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1576670482075765.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • El-Dabaja, Sarah. "Drivers of "Driverless" Vehicles: A Human Factors Study of Connected and Automated Vehicle Technologies." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1576670482075765

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1576670482075765
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.