Acceptance of Training Across Society of Automotive Engineers Levels of Driving Automation

As autonomous vehicles (AVs) become integrated into everyday transportation, developing accurate mental models of automated systems is essential for safe and effective human–vehicle interaction. Inspired by using pre-flight briefings in the aviation industry, this study examined participants’ perceptions of training across the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) levels of driving automation. Fifty-one U.S.-based participants were surveyed about their understandings of AV systems, their reliance behaviors on them, and preferences for training across five SAE levels. Our data revealed that most participants preferred receiving some form of training across all levels of automation. Individuals’ personal preferences for mandatory training increased with higher levels of automation and were strongly aligned with their beliefs on legally required training. Additionally, accessible onboarding approaches, particularly in-vehicle tutorials, were identified as the most preferred training format. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of supporting mental model formation to facilitate safe and effective use of AVs.