Does haptic steering guidance instigate speeding? A driving simulator study into causes and remedies

Area of Science:

• Human-computer interaction
• Road traffic safety
• Automotive engineering

Background:

• Driver assistance systems (DAS) can induce adverse behavioral adaptation (BA) in drivers.
• Haptic steering guidance, a type of DAS, aids lane-keeping but may be susceptible to BA.
• Previous studies on haptic steering guidance maintained constant vehicle speeds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if haptic steering guidance causes behavioral adaptation in the form of speeding.
• To evaluate two novel haptic steering guidance designs aimed at preventing BA.

Main Methods:

• A driving simulator study with 24 participants on a curved road with a narrow lane.
• Four conditions: Manual, Continuous (Cont) haptic guidance, Continuous Reduced Feedback (ContRF), and Bandwidth-based (Band) haptic guidance.
• Participants drove under each condition, instructed to maintain normal driving and avoid cone hits.

Main Results:

• Continuous haptic guidance (Cont) resulted in a significant increase in driving speed (average 7 km/h) compared to manual driving.
• Modified guidance systems (ContRF and Band) did not lead to increased speeds.
• All guidance conditions improved lane-keeping performance; Cont and ContRF reduced self-reported workload.

Conclusions:

• Continuous haptic steering guidance can lead to drivers increasing speed, potentially negating safety benefits.
• Haptic steering guidance designs can be adjusted (e.g., ContRF, Band) to prevent BA while preserving safety enhancements.