From technological acceptability to appropriation by users: Methodological steps for device assessment in road safety

• Methodology based on the logic of action research.
• Technological innovation is conceived to increase road safety.
• Iterative methodology is proposed for to take user's aspects into account.
• The device is effective for reducing speed.
• This gain is maximized when safety device is understood by users.

This article presents the methodology developed within the framework of the research project SARI (Automated Road Surveillance for Driver and Administrator Information). This methodology is based on the logic of action research. The article presents the different stages in the development of technological innovation addressing vehicle control loss when driving on a curve. The results observed in speed reduction illustrate that no matter how optimal an innovation may be technologically speaking, it is only as effective as it is acceptable from a user standpoint. This acceptability can only be obtained if the technology is developed by engineers in liaison with social science specialists.