Autonomous Driving Takeover Requests: The Influence of Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Human-Machine Interface Elements on Driving Trust

Takeover safety in conditional automation depends heavily on effective Takeover Requests (TORs). This study investigated the implication of the temporal distribution of takeover interface elements (temporal distribution: takeover cues appear first/last, spatial distribution: left/center/right) on driving trust in scenarios with different levels of urgency (low: road construction/high: traffic accidents). The results suggest that driver perceptions of the reliability of an automated driving system during control transitions may be influenced by the temporal characteristics of the distribution of human-machine interface elements. Drivers need to supervise the operation status of the autopilot system, and presenting timely information about the system at critical nodes can help improve driver trust. The central spatial distribution contributes to trust in high emergencies, while the right spatial distribution enhances driver trust more in low emergencies. This study informs takeover interface design to enhance control-transition safety in automated vehicles.