Driver Behavior and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: An Exploratory Driving Simulator Study

This paper, from a special issue on driving simulator applications in research and clinical practice, explores potential driver behavior changes due to the interactions with advanced vehicle technologies emerging on the market. These technologies, called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), can take control over specific functions of the vehicle and provide warnings to assist drivers in a variety of driving tasks. The authors explore the evidence that ADAS may change the way drivers behave on the road, resulting in traffic operational improvements and congestion mitigation. The study evaluated performance measures of a vehicle equipped with two types of ADAS in a driving simulator (STISIM Drive) environment; the two systems were Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Change Assist (LCA). A specific route was created in the driving simulator, which consisted of an arterial section followed by a freeway. Participants (n = 25) drove the route twice, once without the systems and then using the two ADAS. Researchers collected data on speed, lane change maneuvers, and headway with the front vehicle. The study found changes in driving behavior due to the systems as well as specific driver characteristics that are more likely to be affected by these technologies. Average and conservative drivers may be more affected by the availability of ADAS, as they may be more willing to accept shorter headways and higher speeds when such systems are in operation.