Tesla Autopilot Through Constructions: Investigating the Effect of On-Road Partially Automated Driving Through Construction Zones

Partially-automated driving systems are designed to control the vehicle’s speed and acceleration without input from the human driver on the condition that the driver maintains alertness. These systems are promised to make driving safer especially when driving in road sections exhibiting a higher risk of collisions like construction zones. Despite this, little knowledge is available on how these systems are used in these accident-prone areas and the effect they may have on drivers’ workload and glance allocation. This study aims to fill this gap by having participants drive a Tesla vehicle in Autopilot and manual mode through three road sections: pre-construction, construction, and post-construction. Results show no differences in cognitive workload by driving mode or construction zone. An increase in glances directed away from the forward roadway toward the vehicle’s touchscreen was observed during partially-automated driving in the pre-construction zone, a pattern that, notably, continued on when driving throughout the construction zone. These findings adds to the literature on the human factors of partial automation. More importantly, because drivers failed to increase the amount of time looking at the forward roadway when entering the construction zone, they show the perniciousness of partially-automated driving and the detrimental effect these systems may have on safety.