Abstract
Background
Automated shuttles are tested in many places worldwide. They are typically electrical minibuses operating at SAE level 3 (i.e. with an operator on-board). Low speed, stereotypical driving and compliance with traffic rules characterize their driving. Their software models are able to solve pre-defined traffic situations. However, in situations they have not been trained for, the shuttles might react in unexpected ways. Both predictable and non-predictable reactions of shuttles have impact on human behavior towards them and may affect traffic safety. As safety is a major concern for society and for implementation of automated vehicles, it is essential to understand the safety consequences of human-shuttle interactions.
Method
This study utilizes video clips of human-shuttle interactions in regular, mixed traffic. Videos were captured in the Oslo region within several TØI projects, at locations such as a shared space, residential areas or signalized intersections. The analyses were conducted in several steps. First, video clips were categorized by a road safety researcher (based on variables such as location and type of involved traffic participants and their maneuvers). Second, a team of experts with diverse backgrounds (such as traffic psychology, game theory, traffic conflict studies, accident analyses, behavioral observations) evaluated the interactions and discussed human behavior towards the shuttles. Utilizing various perspectives of the team members enabled us to better identify the contributory factors to humans’ responses to automated shuttles and to evaluate potential safety issues.
Results
This study is currently on-going. We identified two major categories of human responses. The first category is characterized by misusing the shuttles’ operational characteristics, e.g., drivers and cyclists overtaking slow shuttles in a risky matter or not giving way to the shuttles. The second category is connected to misinterpreting/not trusting shuttles’ reactions which can result for example in drivers wrongly giving way to the shuttles.
Conclusions
The preliminary results suggest that an introduction of automated shuttles into urban traffic leads to several types of behavioral adaptations, which can affect the traffic safety. Misusing of shuttles’ operational characteristics and misinterpreting of shuttles’ reactions contribute to the occurrence of these adaptations.
Automated shuttles are tested in many places worldwide. They are typically electrical minibuses operating at SAE level 3 (i.e. with an operator on-board). Low speed, stereotypical driving and compliance with traffic rules characterize their driving. Their software models are able to solve pre-defined traffic situations. However, in situations they have not been trained for, the shuttles might react in unexpected ways. Both predictable and non-predictable reactions of shuttles have impact on human behavior towards them and may affect traffic safety. As safety is a major concern for society and for implementation of automated vehicles, it is essential to understand the safety consequences of human-shuttle interactions.
Method
This study utilizes video clips of human-shuttle interactions in regular, mixed traffic. Videos were captured in the Oslo region within several TØI projects, at locations such as a shared space, residential areas or signalized intersections. The analyses were conducted in several steps. First, video clips were categorized by a road safety researcher (based on variables such as location and type of involved traffic participants and their maneuvers). Second, a team of experts with diverse backgrounds (such as traffic psychology, game theory, traffic conflict studies, accident analyses, behavioral observations) evaluated the interactions and discussed human behavior towards the shuttles. Utilizing various perspectives of the team members enabled us to better identify the contributory factors to humans’ responses to automated shuttles and to evaluate potential safety issues.
Results
This study is currently on-going. We identified two major categories of human responses. The first category is characterized by misusing the shuttles’ operational characteristics, e.g., drivers and cyclists overtaking slow shuttles in a risky matter or not giving way to the shuttles. The second category is connected to misinterpreting/not trusting shuttles’ reactions which can result for example in drivers wrongly giving way to the shuttles.
Conclusions
The preliminary results suggest that an introduction of automated shuttles into urban traffic leads to several types of behavioral adaptations, which can affect the traffic safety. Misusing of shuttles’ operational characteristics and misinterpreting of shuttles’ reactions contribute to the occurrence of these adaptations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
| Event | ICTTP 2022: International Conference on Traffic and Transport Psychology - Gothenburg, Sweden Duration: 23 Aug 2022 → 25 Aug 2022 |
Conference
| Conference | ICTTP 2022 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Gothenburg |
| Period | 23/08/22 → 25/08/22 |
Keywords
- Automated shuttles
- Video observations
- Traffic safety
- Interactions in regular traffic