The study gives an overview over psychological and social psychological explanations for behaviour adaptation found in literature. The consequences of adaptation processes for the traffic system (including unprotected road users, etc.) are discussed. The Traffic Safety Checklist was used in order to formulate hypotheses concerning ACC's impacts on traffic safety which were then tested with the help of in-car observation. The modes "without equipment", "with low-automation-degree equipment" and "with high-automation-degree equipment" are compared. Observations were followed by a short questionnaire that should allow to divide the groups of drivers into rudimentary "attitude-types", for differentiation. At the end, a suggestion is given about instruments that should be used in order to anticipate behaviour-problem connected to new pieces of equipment. (A)
Abstract