Date: January 28, 2025
Source: North Carolina State University
A new study from North Carolina State University reveals that conversational prompts do a good job of effectively keeping drivers engaged while using partially automated driving systems—except when they are deeply distracted.
Partially automated systems, like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance, still require drivers to stay alert and take control when needed. However, maintaining driver engagement remains a challenge.
“Our research assessed whether system-generated prompts help drivers stay aware and react quickly,” said Professor Jing Feng, the study’s corresponding author.
The study tested 48 participants in a driving simulator across two experiments. Some received no prompts, while others were asked driving-related questions such as, “Is the speed limit still 55 mph?” A separate group received unrelated prompts like, “Did you eat breakfast?”
A second experiment introduced a highly distracting task—solving anagrams on a phone for a cash reward. The results showed that driving-related prompts significantly improved driver engagement, but when participants were deeply distracted by anagrams, prompts had little effect.
Read More Here! How Simple Prompts Can Make Partially Automated Cars Safer
“This highlights the risk of intense distractions,” said first author Xiaoliu Bai, a Ph.D. student at NC State. “Even with prompts, drivers may not be able to respond effectively if they are too engaged in other tasks.”
The findings emphasize the need for better alert systems to ensure drivers remain responsive when using automation.
