The role of automation in reducing stress and negative affect while driving

Operation of a motor vehicle is a complex task associated with thousands of fatalities and injuries each year. Automation is one way to assist drivers in handling the complexity of the driving task. The current state of automation in vehicles is discussed with an emphasis on relations to stress and mental effects. A transactional model of stress is used to examine the potential role of automation as a mediating factor in the reduction of stress in the driving task. Evidence indicates that automation is likely to decrease mental workload and stress, therefore producing a more positive set of emotional responses. Suggestions are made for future research examining automation in traditional, hybrid and electric vehicles.