Taxonomy of traffic situations for the interaction between automated vehicles and human road users

Abstract

The aim of this research is to develop and present a taxonomy of traffic situations relevant for the assessment of communication processes between automated vehicles and other road users. The taxonomy is intended to serve as a basis for concept development and further research on the effect of automated vehicles on human road users like pedestrians, cyclists and manual drivers. The taxonomy can be used to choose attributes and value facets which are relevant for a specific research question. This facilitates a systematic definition of traffic situations, which ensures that all relevant aspects are addressed when eliciting requirements or validating concepts. The overview of attributes also facilitates the identification of potential confounders. Another benefit is the enhanced comparability between different studies. The proposed taxonomy differs from previous taxonomies of traffic situations by focusing not only on the driver’s but on the interaction partner’s perspective, too.