How the Interface of Self-driving Cars Influences the Road-crossing Behavior and Subjective Evaluation of Pedestrians of Different Ages

Abstract

As self-driving technology progresses, there's a crucial need to ensure safe interactions between pedestrians and vehicles. This study delves into how pedestrians of varying ages respond to different vehicle speeds and communication interfaces. The experiment encompasses three age groups (older adults, young adults, children), two vehicle speeds (40 km/hr, 60 km/hr), and six interface variations. Findings highlight those older adults exhibit poorer crossing behaviors, while children's decision times mirror those of young adults, albeit with slower walking speeds impacting safety. Notably, all age groups favor interfaces over no interface, with text-based or text combined with symbols interfaces emerging as the most effective in subjective evaluations and crossing behaviors. These insights offer invaluable guidance for optimizing pedestrian safety in the realm of autonomous vehicles.

Keywords: Age, Pedestrian, Road crossing, Self-driving, Autonomous Vehicle Interface

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005215