Colloquium Cognitive Systems

How to behave as an automatic car so that humans like them - and why this question?

Prof. Dr. Prof. Mark Vollrath (TU Braunschweig)

Abstract. The development and introduction of automatic cars has been based on the assumption that automatic driving is safer than human driving, thus decreasing crash risk. The first part of the talk examines this assumption taking different levels of automation into account, showing that it will probably take decades before this positive effect will arise. Thus, from a buyer’s point of view, automatic cars will have to provide other positive features besides safety. These include personal benefits like being able to safely engage in other activities while driving. However, from a user experience perspective it should also be fun to be driven by an automatic car – or, at least, it should be a comfortable, pleasant experience. This is especially true for the passenger or buyer of the automatic car, but also for other traffic participants interacting with this car. The driving behavior of the automatic cars plays a crucial role to achieve this. Results from experimental studies including two basic driving scenarios are presented to give an idea of how to behave as an automatic car so that humans like them. It will be interesting to see, whether this will really be a sufficient motivation for a wide-spread acceptance of automatic cars given their likely cost-range.

Stange, V., Kühn, M., & Vollrath, M. (2022). Manual Drivers’ Experience and Driving
Behavior in Repeated Interactions with automated Level 3 Vehicles in Mixed Traffic on the
Highway. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 87, 426–443.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2022.04.019
Stange, V., Kühn, M., & Vollrath, M. (2022). Safety at First Sight? – Manual Drivers’
Experience and Driving Behavior at First Contact with Level 3 Vehicles in Mixed Traffic on
the Highway. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 87, 327–346.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2022.04.004
Stange, V., Goralzik, A., Ernst, S., Steimle, M., Maurer, M., & Vollrath, M. (2022). Please stop
now, automated vehicle! – Passengers aim to avoid risk experiences in interactions with a
crossing vulnerable road user at an urban junction. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic
Psychology and Behaviour, 87, 164–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2022.04.001

Bio. Study of Psychology in Würzburg (Diploma 1988), Dr. phil. in 1992 (“Micropauses in Speech”), Habilitation in 2001 (“Learning Processes in Alcohol Tolerance”), Head of Human Factors in DLR (German Aerospace Center, 2002-2007), Full Professor and Head of Department of Traffic and Engineering Psychology, TU Braunschweig since 2007. Research on driver distraction, driver assistance system, automation and driver behavior, human-machine-interaction, route choice for bicyclists, cycling behavior. More than 60 peerreviewed papers. Author of two textbooks “Traffic Psychology” and “Engineering Psychology”. Over 100 press reports. About 40 interviews in radio and tv. Spokesperson of the section “traffic psychology” of DGPs. Member of scientific advisory board of Federal Highway Research Institute and Deutsche Verkehrswacht.