Abstract
Due to the short range of the sensor technology used in automated vehicles, we assume that the implemented driving strategies may initially differ from those of human drivers. Nevertheless, automated vehicles must be able to move safely through manual road traffic. Initially, they will behave as carefully as human learners do. In the same way that driving-school vehicles tend to be marked in Germany, markings for automated vehicles could also prove advantageous. To this end, a simulation study with 40 participants was conducted. All participants experienced three different highway scenarios, each with and without a marked automated vehicle. One scenario was based around some roadworks, the next scenario was a traffic jam, and the last scenario involved a lane change. Common to all scenarios was that the automated vehicles strictly adhered to German highway regulations, and therefore moved in road traffic somewhat differently to human drivers. After each trial, we asked participants to rate how appropriate and disturbing the automated vehicle’s driving behavior was. We also measured objective data, such as the time of a lane change and the time headway. The results show no differences for the subjective and objective data regarding the marking of an automated vehicle. Reasons for this might be that the driving behavior itself is sufficiently informative for humans to recognize an automated vehicle. In addition, participants experienced the automated vehicle’s driving behavior for the first time, and it is reasonable to assume that an adjustment of the humans’ driving behavior would take place in the event of repeated encounters.
Highlights
BMW has announced that the first highly automated vehicles (AVs) will be integrated into road traffic by 2021 [1]
Differs from that of a human driver. These include, in particular, situations where anticipatory driving is required, such as waiting for large gaps or reacting to missing traffic signs. These atypical driving strategies could lead to confusion and distrust by other human road users (HRUs) [3]
One way of counteracting the confusion of HRUs is the clear identification of AVs, e.g., through special marking or additional light signals
Summary
BMW has announced that the first highly automated vehicles (AVs) will be integrated into road traffic by 2021 [1]. There will be several situations where the implemented driving strategy of an AV differs from that of a human driver. These include, in particular, situations where anticipatory driving is required, such as waiting for large gaps or reacting to missing traffic signs (e.g., changes in the speed limit). These atypical driving strategies could lead to confusion and distrust by other human road users (HRUs) [3]. One way of counteracting the confusion of HRUs is the clear identification of AVs, e.g., through special marking or additional light signals
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