As the prospect of automated vehicles (AVs) manoeuvring through UK streets draws ever closer, ensuring the safety of pedestrians has become a matter of critical importance. Coventry University’s recent international study offers a fascinating insight into how pedestrians interact with these advanced vehicles—a step that could help make roads safer for everyone.
With the UK government predicting that AVs could be on public roads as early as 2026, and potentially making up 40% of new cars by 2035, the challenge lies not just in perfecting vehicle technology but in understanding the very humans who share the road with these machines. How do pedestrians make decisions when faced with a silent, driverless car waiting patiently at a crossing? That’s the question at the heart of this research.
Led by Coventry University’s Research Centre for Future Transport and Cities in collaboration with Deakin University, Australia, the study involved 281 participants and revealed intriguing nuances. Factors such as the slope of the road, weather conditions, type of vehicle, and its distance all play vital roles in pedestrian decision-making.
For example, people were more likely to step out confidently when the AV was travelling uphill, on a sunny day, or when smaller vehicles were at a safer distance.
But there’s more than meets the eye. Sachita Shahi, who spearheaded the study, explains how they delved beyond the physical environment to examine the psychological profiles of pedestrians.
They identified three key behavioural groups—risk-averse, resolute, and indecisive—shaped by personal traits like agreeableness and openness. This means that future AVs won’t just respond to sensors and data but could be tuned to anticipate how different personalities move through traffic, making interactions smoother and safer.
Dr William Payre and study lead Sachita Shahi.
Dr William Payre, an Assistant Professor guiding the research, emphasises the human element: “No matter how advanced AVs become, people rely on their own experiences to gauge risk. It’s about giving these vehicles a ‘human flavour’ so they understand pedestrian behaviour intuitively, not just through numbers.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to use virtual reality combined with eye-tracking technology to further unpack what pedestrians focus on when crossing in front of AVs.
Sachita highlights the goal: “By understanding not just when, but how and why people cross, we can design AV systems that truly coexist harmoniously with humans.”
This study is a promising stride toward safer future streets where technology and human behaviour blend effortlessly—a reminder that as innovation advances, we must keep our gaze firmly on the people these changes are meant to serve.
You can access the full study here.
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