• June 01, 2012

    The Car of the Future: Do Drivers Know How to Adapt to New Technology?

    Technological advances are changing the nature of driving. Many of these innovations are designed to increase driver safety by simplifying tasks and user demands in safety-critical situations. An effect that is not anticipated by system designers is that driver’s behavior may change, adapting in unforeseen ways that may either enhance or compromise the potential benefits of the system. This effect, identified by some researchers as behavioral adaptation, can have profound impacts on driving performance, system effectiveness, and overall safety. A system that is designed with the intended purpose of increasing or maintaining safety will fail if adaptation negates the intended outcome. This presentation discusses the observed safety impacts of several in-vehicle systems and what needs to be considered in terms of education, design, and policies for the car of the future.

    Sponsored by: Research and Innovative Technology Administration, University Transportation Centers Program.

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