Automated driving experiences, attention, and intentions following extensive on-road usage of a level 2 automation vehicle
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2024.05.002
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Summary
This study investigates how extensive on-road usage of Level 2 automated driving systems affects driver attention, driving experience, and future purchase intentions. Motivated by prior research that primarily relied on single test drives or simulator environments, which may not reflect long-term behavioral adaptations, the authors sought to determine if the initial positive experiences and safe attentional patterns observed in novice users persist over time. Specifically, the research examined whether increased familiarity with automation leads to decreased attention to the road, increased engagement in secondary activities, and a shift in perceived stress and enjoyment. The study employed a longitudinal on-road design with 30 participants (12 female, 18 male; mean age 35.73) who had no prior experience with Level 2 automation. Participants drove one of five commercially available vehicles equipped with lane centering and adaptive cruise control (Tesla Model 3/S, Cadillac CT6, Volvo XC90, Nissan Rogue) for a period of 6–8 weeks. They were required to use the automation during their daily highway commutes, with one random day per week reserved for manual driving to allow for comparison. Data were collected via bi-weekly surveys measuring trust, usefulness, stress, attention, and usage behaviors, as well as pre-driving measures of beliefs about automated systems and general technology trust. Videotaped behavior and electrophysiological data were collected but are reported in separate publications. Results indicated that as usage increased, participants’ trust in the automated systems, perceptions of their usefulness, and overall evaluations improved significantly. Participants reported that the automation reduced driving stress and made travel more enjoyable, with no significant increase in anxiety or boredom over time. Regarding attention, participants reported a significant increase in engaging in activities unrelated to driving while the automation was active. Concurrently, they reported feeling increasingly comfortable relinquishing control without closely monitoring the system, although they also reported a significant increase in feeling totally focused on the road and driving safely. Pre-driving beliefs about the dependability and safety of automated systems predicted the favorability of the driving experience, whereas general trust in technology did not. Finally, the perceived favorableness of the automated driving experience was a strong predictor of participants’ intentions to use and purchase automated systems in the future. The findings suggest that while Level 2 automation enhances driving comfort and reduces stress, it also encourages a shift in attentional focus toward secondary tasks as familiarity grows. However, drivers remain cognizant of the risks, as evidenced by their continued self-reported focus on safe driving and cautious usage in complex conditions. These results imply that the positive affective experience of automated driving is a key driver of consumer acceptance, but also highlight the need for continued vigilance regarding attentional disengagement during extended use.
Key finding
After 6-8 weeks of daily on-road Level 2 use, automation-naive commuters reported less driving stress (M=3.55, p=.015) and more enjoyable travel (M=3.66, p=.001), but showed no increase in intention to purchase a Level 2 vehicle — a null the authors call very surprising.
Methodology
naturalistic
Sample size: 30
Provenance
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Summary generated by qwen3.8-27b-gittensor on 2026-08-23; verification: pending re-verification.
Topics
Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.
- acceptance adoption
- trust calibration
- automation surprise
- automation
- hands on hands off engagement
- situational awareness
Information type
What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).
- Empirical Findings: self report data, observational prevalence, behavioral performance data