Trust in automation: Examining the relationship with decision making among automobile drivers in the United States

Abstract

Published in SOAR: Shocker Open Access Repository by the Wichita State University Libraries Technical Services, August 2025.Copyright of the Journal of Management and Engineering Integration is the property of the Association of Industry, Engineering and Management Systems Inc., and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.The main objective of the study was to examine the relationship between trust in automation on decision-making with respect to automobile drivers in the United States (U.S.). Human errors currently contribute to 93% of crashes in the U.S. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to significantly decrease the number of accidents caused by human error. The level of trust drivers place in automation plays a crucial role in shaping their decision-making processes. A sample of N = 174 adult drivers in the U.S. responded to an online survey. The appropriate research methodology for the current study was explanatory correlational. A bivariate regression analysis revealed a significant and positive association between trust in automation and decision-making scores of automobile drivers in the U.S. The current research plays an important role in establishing the critical link between trust in automation and decision-making among adult drivers and emphasizes the essential requirement of not only ensuring effective functionality in automated systems but also fostering user trust. The current research addressed multiple strategies to original equipment manufacturers: (a) developing training programs to educate drivers about automation, (b) designing driver centered automation interfaces that communicate effectively and (c) designing systems that ensure consistent performance