To Drive or to Be Driven? The Impact of Autopilot, Navigation System, and Printed Maps on Driver’s Cognitive Workload and Spatial Knowledge

The technical advances in navigation systems should enhance the driving experience, supporting drivers’ spatial decision making and learning less familiar or unfamiliar environments. Furthermore, autonomous are expected to take over near future. Yet, previous studies pointed at a still unresolved gap between environmental exploration using topographical maps means. Less is known about impact of system on driver’s learning. present study investigates development knowledge cognitive workload by comparing printed maps, systems, autopilot an virtual environment. Learning new route with was associated higher demand compared autopilot. In contrast, memory resulted increased level if had been previously learned Way-finding performance found be prone errors when from map. environment not provide any compelling advantages for landmark knowledge. Our findings suggest long-term disadvantages self-driving vehicles representations.