Technology readiness affects the acceptance of and intention to use an automated driving system after repeated experience

Abstract

User acceptance is the key to success of automated driving. The user's technology readiness is one important factor in their behavioral intention to use automated driving. User acceptance changes with actual experience of the technology. The effect of user's technology readiness, automation level and experience with the technology on the acceptance of automated driving are assessed in a driving simulator study. N=60 drivers tested an L3 or L4 motorway automated driving system during six drives taking place at six different days. They evaluated the tested systems for a variety of relevant aspects. The results show an impact of technology readiness on higher level concepts like usefulness, satisfaction and behavioural intention but not on direct evaluation of the functionality or on drivers' immediate experience of driving with the system. The meaning of the results for future research is discussed.