Over the coming years, drivers will have an increasing variety of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) at their disposal, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). ADAS are in-vehicle systems that support the driver with the driving task. These systems are expected to lead to a safer, cleaner and more efficient and comfortable transport system. However, whether ADAS will meet these high expectations is greatly dependent on the willingness of car drivers to use these systems. An important question is to what extent drivers are eager to have ‘intelligent vehicles’. When several ADAS can enter the vehicle, another question arises of which systems should be integrated and how this should be done. This paper presents the results from a user needs survey that gives an answer to these questions. By means of an Internet questionnaire, more than 1000 Dutch car drivers indicated their needs for driver assistance with certain driving tasks (e.g. congestion driving) and situations (e.g. driver fatigue). It appeared that warnings for downstream traffic conditions and traffic in blind spots were favoured. According to McNemar tests, the need for a warning for downstream traffic conditions on motorways (90%) significantly differed from the need for other driver support functions (<84%). It was concluded that this function was most popular of all. Moreover, the ideal driver support system should support the driver with critical situations, such as an imminent crash and reduced visibility. From McNemar tests, it appeared that drivers preferred the ideal system to help them with these situations and car following (>51%) to other driving tasks and situations (<43%). Characteristics of the driver, system and traffic scene affected the needs for driver support. Gender, for example, appeared to have the biggest influence on the types of driver assistance wanted in the ideal driver support system. Respondents would mainly like their cars to help them by giving information or warnings. Automatic actions from the car were unpopular, except when driving in traffic jams for example. Generally, drivers would like their cars to provide support in critical situations. Besides, there was a great need for driver assistance on motorways. The needs of the driver indicated consequences for the integration of driver assistance. Driver support functions should exchange information to extend their individual fields of activity, for example by inter-vehicle communication (e.g. warning for downstream traffic conditions) or sensor data fusion (e.g. warning for an imminent crash). Furthermore, an integrated interface should be used that gives priority to important messages or actions to prevent the driver from overload or confusion. (Author/publisher)
Abstract