Does Information on Automated Driving Functions and the Way of Presenting It before Activation Influence Usersxe2x80x99 Behavior and Perception of the System? Information on automated driving functions when automation is not activated but is available have not been investigated thus far. As the possibility of conducting nondriving related activities (NDRAs) is one of the most important aspects when it comes to perceived usefulness of automated cars and many NDRAs are timedependent, users should know the period for which automation is available, even when not activated. This article presents a study (N  33) investigating the effects of displaying the availability duration beforexe2x80x94versus afterxe2x80x94activation of the automation on usersxe2x80x99 activation behavior and on how the system is rated. Furthermore, the way of addressing users regarding the availability on a more personal level to establish xe2x80x9csympathyxe2x80x9d with the system was examined with regard to acceptance, usability, and workload. Results show that displaying the availability duration before activating the automation reduces the frequency of activations when no NDRA is executable within the automated drive. Moreover, acceptance and usability were higher and workload was reduced as a result of this information being provided. No effects were found with regard to how the user was addressed.

Information Needs and Visual Attention during Urban, Highly Automated Drivingxe2x80x94An Investigation of Potential Influencing Factors During highly automated driving, the passenger is allowed to conduct nondriving related activities (NDRA) and no longer has to act as a fallback at the functional limits of the driving automation system. Previous research has shown that at lower levels of automation, passengers still wish to be informed about automated vehicle behavior to a certain extent. Due to the aim of the introduction of urban automated driving, which is characterized by high complexity, we investigated the information needs and visual attention of the passenger during urban, highly automated driving. Additionally, there was an investigation into the influence of the experience of automated driving and of NDRAs on these results. Forty participants took part in a driving simulator study. As well as the information presented on the humanxe2x80x93machine interface (system status, navigation information, speed and speed limit), participants requested information about maneuvers, reasons for maneuvers, environmental settings and additional navigation data. Visual attention was significantly affected by the NDRA, while the experience of automated driving had no effect. Experience and NDRA showed no significant effect on the need for information. Differences in information needs seem to be due to the requirements of the individual passenger, rather than the investigated factors.