The technology behind self-driving cars is being heavily promulgated as the solution to a variety of transport problems. This reference text examines a key role for human factors to play in driving forward future vehicle automation in a way that realizes the benefits while avoiding the pitfalls.

Mark S. Young is a visiting professor, Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University, UK. He has a BSc in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Human Factors and is a Chartered Fellow of the UK Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF). His research interests focus on the human factors of transport systems and much of his research has been based on simulators, investigating issues such as driver workload, distraction, and the effects of automation and novel technologies.

Neville A. Stanton is a chartered psychologist, chartered ergonomist, and chartered engineer. He is a professor emeritus of human factors engineering in the School of Engineering at the University of Southampton, UK. He has degrees in Occupational Psychology (BSc), Applied Psychology (MPhil), and Human Factors Engineering (PhD, DSc) and has worked at the Universities of Aston, Brunel, Cornell, and MIT. His research interests include modelling, predicting, analysing, and evaluating human performance in systems as well as designing the interfaces and interaction between humans and technology.

Stage 1: Setting out. 1. Context. 2. Promises, promises.... 3. Pay attention. Stage 2: Taking the load off. 4. How low is too low? 5. When is ACC not ACC? 6. What's skill got to do with it? 7. I thought you were driving! Stage 3: Human-centred automation. 8. What can automation do for us? 9. How do we get along? Stage 4: Letting George do it. 10. An autopian future?