Is the automated vehicle “aware” of the pedestrian? Examining driving behavior adaptation as a cue to inform the passenger of a potential hazard

In urban areas, drivers often have difficulty detecting pedestrians who want to cross the street but are obstructed by parked vehicles. Highly automated vehicles (HAVs, SAE Level 4) will solve this issue automatically and at least as safely human drivers. We conducted two studies investigate whether passengers’ trust in automation can be supported adapting HAV driving behavior demonstrate that vehicle is “aware” of a potential hazard. examined perception risk, their system, preferences for behavioral adaptations response hazard situation experimental studies, 1) simulator study 2) human&vehicle-in-the-loop study. varied lateral offset from road center deceleration (driving only) when passing vehicle. study, we HAV’s speed presence pedestrian parking bay an oncoming obscured 50 km/h. Results support idea it beneficial passengers informed about HAVs “awareness” potentially hazardous situation. However, introducing had no positive effect on perceptions. Deceleration enhanced was only Future research should compare effects other in-vehicle human–machine interface approaches providing information hazards visually.