Trust and the use of adaptive cruise control: a study of a cut-in situation

Abstract

This paper analyses driver trust and performance when using adaptive cruise control (ACC) in a situation involving a truck cutting into the lane in front of the ACC-equipped vehicle. The study was carried out using a mini driving simulator and a simulated ACC whose reference speed and time headway (THW) were preset to 130 km/h and 1.5 s, respectively. Questionnaires were used to analyse driver trust. Two kinds of drivers emerge from the analysis of driver behaviour during the cut-in situation: drivers who reclaimed control from the ACC before the device began to regulate the THW with regard to the truck, and drivers who braked after the device had begun its regulation. The latter demonstrated a higher level of trust in the ACC device itself while the former had a higher level of trust in the cooperation with the device. These findings are discussed in terms of over-reliance and well-calibrated trust.