Introducing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) into drivers’ training and testing: The young learner drivers’ perspective

Novice drivers attract a lot of the attention in terms of their involvement in traffic accidents, especially during the first period of driving. In the Netherlands, rash rates have been increasing for the inexperienced drivers during the last years, resulting in crash rates that are five times higher than the rates of experienced drivers. Following the traffic safety facts, safety has become a vital asset for the automotive industry over the past decades. The radical development of Advanced Driver Assistance systems (ADAS) has shown potential to compensate for the inabilities of drivers to properly react to risky situations. Thus, they could especially contribute in mitigating novice drivers’ crash involvement by assisting them in performing difficult driving tasks, like hazard detection and speed adaptation. On the other hand, such automation may negatively affect driving behaviour and driving performance in terms of reaction time, situation awareness and increased workload stemming from additional tasks depending on the specific type of ADAS. The main objective of this study is to examine the perception of learner drivers towards in-car driving assistance systems and the possibility of introducing them into drivers’ training and testing. The impact of two specific ADAS is examined, which are the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD) system. The research methodology included literature review, questionnaire development and in-depth personal interviews. Aspects like the perceived usefulness of the systems and the willingness to use were investigated. The results of the study showed that both systems are considered important for different reasons, based on learner drivers’ perceptions. Relieving the young driver from the stress caused by multitasking, as well as, increasing traffic safety levels lead to ranking the BSD system first in their preferences for driving assistance. The BSD system is considered as an ADAS increasing traffic safety, whereas the ACC system is believed to be luxurious system assisting in harmonising the traffic flow. For these reasons, learner drivers ranked the BSD system at a higher priority over ACC when they were asked about sequence of the systems’ introduction in the drivers’ education. Concerning the systems’ integration in training and testing procedures, their integration should ensure that drivers learn to react safely to all input interfaces and properly perceive all the systems’ indications. The training should also teach drivers about handling systems’ possible failures. Thus, after determining the sequence of the systems’ introduction, theoretical behavioural tests should be made to the trainers before the practical lessons and specific elements need to be included in both training and testing, depending on each system’s specifications and demands. In this way, elements for all levels of drivers’ training, from tactical to strategic, are incorporated.