Factors influencing the perception of safety for pedestrians and cyclists through interactions with automated vehicles in shared spaces

Research has demonstrated the benefits of external human–machine interfaces (eHMIs) in increasing vulnerable road users’ (VRU) feeling of safety in interactions with automated vehicles (AVs). However, two key gaps exist in the literature. First, existing studies examined AV-VRU communication aspects in the context of conventional roads with traffic controls, but not for shared spaces where VRU-AV interaction is reliant on communication between the two parties. Second, limited knowledge is available on the differences between cyclists and pedestrians when interacting with AV. This paper aims to address these gaps through an online questionnaire among 254 cyclists and pedestrians in Australia and the UK. Perceived safety was measured in terms of willingness to cross in front of an AV, feeling of security, and feeling of relaxation. Results from a three-stage least square regression analysis identified differences in the factors for pedestrians and cyclists. Pedestrians that were male, over the age of 35, not regular cyclists, or residents of the UK reported lower feelings of safety, relaxation, and willingness to cross than their counterparts. Similar results were found cyclists who are older than 45 years, and UK residents compared to other cyclist participants. Both pedestrians and cyclists reported more willingness to cross and higher feelings of security and relaxation when an eHMI was present. These findings indicate that for effective use and understanding of eHMIs targeted interventions are needed to address the specific concerns of different demographic groups, as identified in this research. By increasing public understanding and acceptance of AVs – as well as eHMIs – across all demographic groups, researchers can promote a smooth integration of these technologies into shared spaces.