In this study, we focus on different strategies drivers use in terms of interleaving between driving and non-driving related tasks (NDRT) while taking back control from automated driving. We conducted two driving simulator experiments to examine how different cognitive demands of texting, priorities, and takeover time budgets affect drivers’ takeover strategies. We also evaluated how different takeover strategies affect takeover performance. We found that the choice of takeover strategy was influenced by the priority and takeover time budget but not by the cognitive demand of the NDRT. The takeover strategy did not have any effect on takeover quality or NDRT engagement but influenced takeover timing.

We explore the transfer of control from an automated vehicle to the driver. Based on data from N=19 participants who participated in a driving simulator experiment, we find evidence that the transfer of control often does not take place in one step. In other words, when the automated system requests the transfer of control back to the driver, the driver often does not simply stop the non-driving task. Rather, the transfer unfolds as a process of interleaving the non-driving and driving tasks. We also find that the process is moderated by the length of time available for the transfer of control: interleaving is more likely when more time is available. Our interface designs for automated vehicles must take these results into account so as to allow drivers to safely take back control from automation.