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With the development and introduction of advanced vehicle control systems such as intelligent cruise control (ICC) and forward collision avoidance systems (FCAS), many safety and human factors issues specific to these control systems are being raised. This paper addresses some issues that, to date, are still matters for discussion and consideration amongst system designers. Aimed principally at the implementation of ICC, some items naturally lend themselves to the design of forward collision avoidance systems as well. Specific issues discussed include: seat belt lock-out systems, foot placement sensing, and adjustable headway.

This study investigated levels of driver comfort and acceptance for an autonomous intelligent cruise control (AICC) system driven in an actual highway environment. Objective measures of driving performance and behavior are compared with participants' subjective assessments when operating under manual control, conventional cruise, and AICC. Included in the comparison are measures of driver velocity and braking behavior. Participants drove at slightly higher mean velocities under the manual condition as compared with AICC. Participants applied the brakes least frequently when driving manually. Participants rated the AICC system favorably for comfort, ease of use, and convenience. However, participants did express limited concerns associated with the use of AICC.

Suggestions for pictographic symbols for identifying automotive controls and displays were obtained from 32 drivers. A total of 142 symbol candidates were developed from these suggestions for 25 functions. Subsequently, 104 people at a driver licensing office ranked these candidates and corresponding symbols in ISO Standard 2575 from best to worst. The criterion was how well the candidates represented the functions of interest. Based on those data the authors recommend replacing the ISO symbols for the lighter, fog lights, hood release, master lighting switch, and temperature and continuing to seek alternatives for the front defrost, hazard, headlamp cleaner, high beam headlamps, unleaded fuel, parking lights, rear defrost, windshield washer, and windshield washer/wiper.