How do humans respond when automated vehicles request an immediate vehicle control take-over?

In the present study, human behavioral patterns have been analyzed using eye-tracking-based perception time, human response time, and the manner of driving-control-transition when a vehicle issues a control take-over request (TOR). The time for perceiving the TOR varied ranging between 1.84 s and 19.93 s. In 54% of all TOR events, drivers began manual driving with braking, in 33% with throttle application, and in 13% with steering inputs. The observations of this study are as follows: men initiate throttle operation earlier than women do when given TORs; NDRT tasks do not affect users' response; and visual-only warnings are not recommended for TORs.