This paper presents findings pertaining to human factors issues and safety-related performance as derived from operating a passenger car, equipped with an autonomous/intelligent cruise control (ACC) system for controlling headway in typical freeway traffic. Objective measurements of range to the preceding vehicle, the time rate of change of that range, and the velocity of the host vehicle are used to examine performance during situations involving closing on a vehicle ahead, following a preceding vehicle, and reacting to lane merges or cut-ins by other vehicles. (A)
Abstract