Many aspects regarding self-driving vehicles are controversial. In the long run, these kinds of vehicles are intended to increase safety and efficiency in traffic but many people remain skeptical. According to surveys, approximately 40% of those surveyed perceive self-driving cars as threatening or unreliable. This seems to hold true across borders in Germany, the USA, China, and Japan. When it comes to paving the way for the new technology, there are not only technical issues to solve, but getting the public on board as well.

A recently published study in Nature Electronics by Prof. Olaverri-Monreal (head of ITS-Sustainable Transport Logistics) looks at different ways to reduce many people’s skepticism. Field trials have shown there are several options to increase confidence in self-driving cars, including a self-driving vehicle that can recognize and warn pedestrians. Click here, opens an external URL in a new window to learn more about other approaches and what other factors need to be taken into consideration.

Enabling the introduction of self-driving cars and taking the needs and expectations of others on the road into account is at the heart of Olaverri-Monreal's research as she believes in the safety of self-driving cars and that fears can be overcome.