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While autonomous vehicles (AVs) could transform transportation, their “black box” nature often leaves occupants unaware of the rationale for their actions. Providing explanations can enhance transparency and facilitate widespread AV adoption. This study investigated scenario (when) and human factors (who) that influence the Demand of Explanations (DoE) to ensure explanations are provided when needed, followed by exploring the reasons (why) behind these demands. We conducted an online experimental study among 440 participants, who viewed 36 simulated driving scenarios, varying in AV actions, driving styles, time/weather and traffic environments. Results of multilevel and qualitative analysis showed that: (1) DoE was significantly higher when AVs drove aggressively, in urban areas, during turning and merging, and in nighttime or rain; (2) participants who had lower trust in AVs and older adults significantly demanded more explanations; and (3) safety and traffic rules were the primary reasons for seeking explanations.
Kou et al. (Wed,) studied this question.