Werbung
Werbung

How autonomous vehicles could influence traffic in the future

The hurdles are still high to integrate autonomous vehicles into public transport. However, in the near future, we will have to come to terms with autonomous vehicles. The impact they will have on traffic flow is still largely unclear.

More AVs, less traffic? It is not yet researched how well AVs integrate into traffic.| Photo: Jacek Dylag/unsplash
More AVs, less traffic? It is not yet researched how well AVs integrate into traffic.| Photo: Jacek Dylag/unsplash
Werbung
Werbung

Whether autonomous vehicles (AVs) are the solution for the increasing traffic in congested cities and highways – or if they might even negatively impact traffic – there is still much research needed to determine the effect of autonomous vehicles on our roads.

More traffic jams due to AVs – or fewer?

Some studies on the impact of AVs on traffic congestion suggest a positive effect on traffic flow. The results indicate that traffic jams can be reduced even if only a small number of AVs are deployed alongside human-driven vehicles.

However, a 2021 study by the University of Western Australia presented a contrary view, particularly when traffic is on two-lane roads. AVs leave large gaps between themselves and the vehicle ahead to avoid unnecessary braking. The study found that human drivers more frequently changed lanes to drive in front of AVs due to these large gaps. Each time they did so, it triggered a stop-and-go wave and disrupted the smooth flow of traffic.

Optimized Distance to Other Road Users

Sometimes traffic jams occur due to accidents or construction sites. In many cases, there seems to be no apparent reason for them. Even small disturbances in the constant flow of traffic can lead to a chain reaction that dramatically slows down traffic or even brings it to a temporary standstill. When a driver unnecessarily steps on the brake, it triggers a wave of braked cars in the traffic queue behind them. This creates a so-called "stop-and-go wave."

AVs are designed to optimize their speed and distance to maintain traffic flow without unnecessary braking, which means they could help prevent traffic jams in congestion-prone areas.

More Space on the Roads through "Platooning"

In the so-called "platooning," vehicles drive in a convoy. Thanks to the ability of the vehicles to communicate with each other, the distances can remain very small even at high speeds. Driving in the "slipstream" of the vehicle in front has the advantage, in addition to the positive effect on the environment, that AVs take up significantly less space on the road and can thus reduce the likelihood of traffic jams. Truck platoons are already being tested across Europe, utilizing automated driving technologies such as automatic braking.

When AVs cooperate, they can optimize traffic flow and increase traffic speed by up to 35 percent. For this, the vehicles need to be able to communicate and react to each other. If AVs cannot seamlessly network with each other, it will lead to stop-and-go waves and queues, just like with human-driven vehicles.

The development of individual platooning solutions by many manufacturers could prove problematic, as there is (still) no unified solution. If vehicles of different brands cannot communicate smoothly, the impact of platooning on general traffic would be barely measurable.

Fewer Accidents Thanks to AVs

Accidents usually cause a lot of traffic jams as roads are completely or partially closed for hours. Most road accidents are caused by human error, whether it be temporary inattention, failure to observe hazards, or reckless driving behavior. AVs continuously monitor the roadway and react automatically to minimize the risk of accidents. Theoretically, AVs can make roads safer by reducing the human error rate.

It is not definitively clarified who is liable in the event of an accident with - or in - an AV. Many AVs are currently still operating in “protected” environments, meaning they are not fully integrated into regular traffic. Some autonomous shuttles are already on public roads, often at very reduced speeds and/or with an operator who can take control in tricky situations.

What Does This Mean?

Traffic would certainly flow more smoothly if all vehicles could communicate with each other and were autonomously controlled – whether this is desirable is another question. Currently, the interaction between AI-controlled vehicles and human drivers is incredibly complex and their interaction in traffic is still unpredictable.

Translated automatically from German.
Werbung

Branchenguide

Werbung