Smart Vehicles, Safety, and Auto Insurance

Automobile safety has improved since the 1960s, mostly because of improved vehicle structures and restraint systems. Another round of revolutionary change is promised by advanced information technologies, but it's unlikely that all of these will improve safety. In particular, many of these technologies change the driving task, and it's critical to understand how drivers respond to the changes because the responses may enhance or counteract any potential safety benefits. This paper will discuss what is necessary to predict driver response.