Effects of User Instruction on Acceptance and Trust in Automated Driving

Trust and acceptance are key to the adoption of automated driving systems. However, recent research shows reluctance to trust and accept such systems. One way of overcoming the persisting barriers is to ensure good and appropriate user instruction. The present study investigates the influence of a text-based as opposed to a video-based instruction on trust and acceptance. To evaluate the influence of these instruction methods, the development of trust and acceptance were examined at different stages of system experience with an automated parking assistant. 36 participants took part in an on-road study, in which they performed a total of ten parking maneuvers. Trust and acceptance were assessed after the user instruction, but before the initial system experience, after five maneuvers and finally after five more subsequent maneuvers. Trust and acceptance ratings were higher in the video-based instruction group compared to the text-based introduction group before initial system experience. Furthermore, trust and acceptance increased with system usage. The assessments of the two groups converged over time and did not differ statistically after ten parking maneuvers. Nevertheless, the video-based introduction shows promise with regard to reducing prior distrust and rejection of automated driving and should therefore be considered as an instruction method.