Drivers' Intentions to Use Different Functionalities of Conditionally Automated Cars: A Survey Study of 18,631...

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Automotive Engineering
• Transportation Psychology

Background:

• Conditionally Automated Cars (CACs) will feature multiple Automated Driving Functions (ADFs) operating in diverse Operational Design Domains (ODDs).
• Driver behavior and acceptance can differ significantly based on the ODD and individual user characteristics.
• Limited research exists on how drivers' intention to use specific ADFs varies across different ODDs and demographic factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate drivers' intention to use various ADFs across four distinct ODDs: Motorways, Traffic Jams, Urban Roads, and Parking.
• To analyze how intention to use ADFs is influenced by driver demographics (age, gender, country of residence) and prior experience with Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Main Methods:

• An online survey was conducted with 18,631 car drivers across 17 countries (8 European).
• Participants reported their intention to use ADFs in different ODDs.
• Statistical analysis explored correlations between intention to use, driver demographics, country-specific factors (GDP, road death rates), and ADAS experience.

Main Results:

• Overall intention to use ADFs was high, with significantly greater intention for Parking functions compared to others.
• Younger drivers (<39), males, and those with prior ADAS experience showed higher intention to use ADFs.
• Drivers from countries with lower GDP and higher road death rates exhibited higher intention to use ADFs, while the reverse was observed in high GDP/low road death rate countries.

Conclusions:

• Driver intention to use ADFs is not uniform and is influenced by ODD, demographics, and socioeconomic factors.
• Development and deployment strategies for CACs and their ADFs require tailoring to specific national and regional markets.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring widespread adoption and safe utilization of automated driving technologies.