Reactions to adaptive cruise control (ACC) were solicited from drivers following use of an ACC equipped vehicle for one hour in an actual highway environment. Participant's impressions were obtained through questionnaires, administered immediately following the exposure, and later in focus groups. Individuals of varying age and conventional cruise control usage took part in the study. The issues of comfort, safety, ease-of-use, and estimated worth were addressed. While participants offered favourable responses towards ACC, despite having limited safety concerns, they were willing to pay surprisingly little for the added convenience provided. The issues of driver over-dependency on technology system reliability, and customized features appear to warrant additional investigation to overcome consumer's hesitation towards purchasing and using ACC and similar forms of advanced vehicle control systems.
Abstract