Decoding Your Ride: What Information Builds Human Trust on Real Roads?

The age of self-driving cars is no longer a distant sci-fi dream; it's an emergent reality. Highly automated vehicles, those capable of handling all driving tasks under specific or all conditions (SAE Level 4 or 5), promise a future where we can reclaim our commute time for work, relaxation, or entertainment. However, as with any technological shift, widespread adoption hinges on public trust and acceptance. For some individuals, the idea of ceding control to a machine, especially a first-time experience, can evoke anxiety [1], particularly when the vehicle behaves in unexpected ways. This is where the concept of ''explanations'' becomes relevant. We are discovering that providing passengers with information about what an automated vehicle is ''judging'' or ''perceiving'' can enhance their experience. Explanations can give passengers an increased sense of control and help them appropriately calibrate their trust based on the vehicle's actual capabilities [2]. Ultimately, this can reduce anxiety, encouraging automation use and making the journey more comfortable and productive.