Editorial: Effects of Driver Support Systems on Cognitive and Affective Processes Underlying Driving Behaviors

Driving is a challenging task which involves complex interactions between psychological factors that can underpin whether on-road behaviors are safe or not. The knowledge of these factors is crucial to achieve targeted reductions in road trauma set by governments and regulators around the world. Advances in vehicle technology is among one of the strategies expected to improve road safety. Recently, much research has been conducted to develop these applications and investigate their potential usefulness, taking into account the characteristics and limitations of the human cognitive/emotional/motivational system. Over the past few decades, the development of automation and connected autonomous vehicles has provided the tools for on-roadmobility which is less prone to human errors, and basic research aimed at investigating the impact of these vehicles on the users, to identify the appropriate guidelines, has become increasingly needed. With this in mind, this special issue focused on contributing to the wealth of knowledge and debate in the field of road safety, in particular by tackling some key issues around driver support systems, cognitions and affect.