Social Interaction Between Road Users and Automated Vehicles

Self-driving cars are currently operational in certain urban areas. Despite these designated zones presumed to be optimal, concerns over incident rates and shifting public opinion necessitate a focus on the social integration of these technologies. The ability of self-driving cars to navigate informal interactions and unexpected situations, a critical aspect of social behaviour, falls short due to the absence of human-centric communication transfer in urban mixed traffic where self-driving cars and humans coexist. Recognizing the social context of traffic, the thesis aims to address the gap in social interaction and position fully Automated Vehicles (AVs) as social agents. Achieving widespread accessibility for AVs goes beyond technological advancements; it requires successful social integration. The present thesis contends that failure to integrate the social agency of AVs during design could diminish their usability and overall success. Understanding social behaviour in traffic and how AVs function as social agents is crucial to resolving interaction challenges and ensuring seamless coexistence with human road users.