A social driving style of highly automated vehicles from cyclists’ perspective

Abstract

The introduction of Highly Automated Vehicles (HAVs) presents challenges for everyday transport, particularly impacting cyclists, who are part of what is called vulnerable road users. While HAVs promise to optimise traffic flow and enhance safety, concerns about their safety remain. This research addresses the gap in understanding cyclists' expectations and perceptions of social driving behaviour in The Netherlands. By developing a conceptual framework and a questionnaire, the study explores the interactions between cyclists and HAVs, focusing on trust, perceived safety and perceived social behaviour of cyclists in urban settings like The Hague. Findings reveal that cyclists' comfortability with sharing the roads with HAVs and their belief that HAVs are more likely to follow the rules influence their opinions. Additionally, the use of electronic Human-Machine Interface (eHMI) in HAVs, seems to positively affect cyclists’ trust, perceived safety and perceived social behaviour. Notably, it is found that demographic factors have little influence on cyclists' attitudes towards HAVs. The study underscores the importance of predictability in fostering higher safety ratings and demonstrates how the characteristics and driving behaviour of HAVs affect cyclist perceptions. These insights can guide policymakers and developers in devising solutions that enhance the safety and well-being of all road users, ensuring the effective integration of HAV technology while minimising potential drawbacks.