Exploring the Driver’s Mental Control Model: Concepts and Insights

This study aims to develop a comprehensive model that accurately represents the perceptual system of drivers and provides insights into their behavior. Existing models, namely the Skill-Rule-Knowledge model and the dynamic driving task model, were integrated. This integrated model successfully elucidates the sequential processes involved in sensation reception, recognition, judgment, and control. Furthermore, the study investigates the drivers’ behavior during takeover situations. Specifically, the model’s sequence was determined by considering two distinct scenarios: unplanned operational design domain (ODD) exit resulting from automated driving system (ADS) failure and planned ODD exit during highway driving. Empirical data was gathered using a simulator with 36 participants in the ADS failure situation and 40 participants in the highway exit situation. Two takeover situations were compared based on drivers’ perception time and perception-reaction time. The results revealed that both the perception time and perception-reaction time were significantly longer in the highway exit situation compared to the ADS failure situation. These findings have important implications for understanding the differences in drivers’ cognitive processes and reaction times in varying driving contexts. It is worth noting that this model will undergo further refinement, validation, and application to other features of ADS or different driving scenarios in future research.