  This study investigates the role of haptic feedback in a car-following
scenario, where information about the motion of the front vehicle is provided
through a virtual elastic connection with it. Using a robotic interface in a
simulated driving environment, we examined the impact of varying levels of such
haptic feedback on the driver's ability to follow the road while avoiding
obstacles. The results of an experiment with 15 subjects indicate that haptic
feedback from the front car's motion can significantly improve driving control
(i.e., reduce motion jerk and deviation from the road) and reduce mental load
(evaluated via questionnaire). This suggests that haptic communication, as
observed between physically interacting humans, can be leveraged to improve
safety and efficiency in automated driving systems, warranting further testing
in real driving scenarios.
