Assessing advanced driver assistance systems in police vehicles under demanding conditions

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are technologies that can enhance drivers' safety by relieving them from some driving related activities. However, police driving conditions and demands are different from those of civilian drivers. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of ADAS such as forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), and blind spot monitoring (BSM) on police officers' driving performance, workload, and trust in vehicle safety to provide personalised solutions for police vehicles. A driving simulation study was conducted with 18 police officers. ADAS use was assessed under various driving conditions and while officers were engaged in non-driving related tasks. Findings suggested that the FCW and AEB systems improved officers' driving performance, while the BSM system had limited effectiveness due to low salience. ADAS were beneficial under normal driving conditions and when officers were using in-vehicle technology; however, they did not help officers in pursuit conditions. A driving simulation study was conducted to assess the effect of ADAS in police vehicles under various driving and non-driving related task conditions. The results can help vehicle manufacturers improve the design and usability of ADAS in police cars.