Pleasure in using adaptive cruise control: A questionnaire study in The Netherlands

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Automotive Engineering
• Transportation Psychology

Background:

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is an increasingly common automated driving feature.
• Previous studies on ACC user satisfaction often focused on specific brands, lacking a comprehensive view of diverse ACC systems.
• Drivers frequently report positive experiences with ACC but also note limitations requiring manual intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the key factors influencing user pleasure with diverse Adaptive Cruise Control systems.
• To understand the determinants of driver satisfaction across various ACC technologies in real-world traffic.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire with 55 items was administered to 182 Dutch users of various ACC systems.
• Data collection focused on user ratings and free-response feedback regarding ACC performance and experience.

Main Results:

• Users rated ACC highly (mean score 8.0/10), particularly on high-speed roads and in low-density traffic.
• ACC systems capable of decelerating to a full stop were preferred by 48% of respondents.
• Negative feedback cited clumsiness and potential dangers, while positive feedback highlighted human-machine complementarity, responsibility, and experience.

Conclusions:

• Driver pleasure with ACC is influenced by technological capabilities, such as full stop functionality.
• Human factors, including user experience, perceived responsibility, and the synergy between driver and system, are crucial for ACC satisfaction.