Providing contextual information when encountering traffic interruptions during automated driving

The complexity of urban driving environment may create frequent interruptions in the course of automated vehicles, which may have adverse effects on driver's mood, and even result in driver-initiated takeovers. A possible way to counteract this is to help drivers reappraise the situation by providing additional information when they encounter interruptions in vehicle's progression. This study aimed at assessing the effect of an HMI enhanced with contextual information on drivers' mood, attitude and behavior compared to a basic HMI. Participants drove the experimental scenario in a driving simulator, once with and once without receiving contextual information. Results are discussed, potential bias is identified, and perspectives are evoked to improve the proposed method.