Search Results

This study examined the effects of formalized training on driver behavior and understanding of an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system with drivers experienced with ACC. Sixteen participants drove an ACC-equipped vehicle while following a lead vehicle around a test track. Participants completed three laps, each involving different lead vehicle behaviors, such as making a lane change or stopping at a red light, that test the limitations and capabilities of ACC (i.e., boundary conditions) of the subject ACC system. Immediately before driving, half of the participants watched a training video describing how the ACC system would respond to these lead vehicle behaviors. Participants’ knowledge of the ACC system limitations was assessed by a pre- and post-test questionnaire, and participants’ interactions with the ACC system - including braking behavior, other pedal movements, and actuation of ACC via steering wheel controls - were recorded by video cameras.

Pedal errors have been widely reported as a leading cause of unintended acceleration (UA) incidents for several decades. Many governmental and scientific studies have attempted to characterize the rate of pedal errors leading to UA incidents using data from the North Carolina Crash Database. These data, however, are limited for various reasons, including the absence of an in-depth investigation of causal factors contributing to the accident. To further examine the rate of UA incidents related to pedal error, we utilized the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS), a nationally representative sample of 5,471 crashes that occurred between 2005 and 2007. Using a targeted keyword search, we identified 48 potential pedal errors (30 driver-admitted), providing a national estimate of 17,919 pedal errors. We then investigated accident characteristics across these specific cases, including demographics of the drivers, vehicle characteristics, and pre-crash critical events.