Presentation
The Effects of Non-Driving-Related Task Engagement on Automated Driving Takeover Performance During the Nighttime
SessionST7 - Vigilance and Driving
Event Type
Lecture
Perception and Performance
System Development
TimeThursday, October 13th2:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
LocationL402/L403
DescriptionConditionally automated vehicles are becoming more widely available. In some situations, driver intervention will be needed, but drivers may engage in non-driving-related tasks (NDRTs) that could limit their ability to regain vehicle control. Most previous research has investigated the effects of NDRT engagement on vehicle takeover performance during the daytime. However, the effects of nighttime visibility on takeover performance remain unknown. This study examined how engagement in two visual NDRTs affects automated takeover performance during nighttime. Forty-three participants drove a simulated automated vehicle while engaged in a peripheral detection task (PDT; on-road) or Surrogate Reference Task (SuRT; off-road). Overall, drivers in the SuRT condition had significantly inferior takeover speeds and made worse takeover decisions. Also, lane position and acceleration measures were worse in the PDT condition. This study highlights the potential costs associated with engagement in NDRTs at nighttime, which could generate discussions about the challenges of nighttime automated takeovers.