Evaluation of an Autonomous Vehicle External Communication System Concept: A Survey Study

Road users communicate by reading the intention, and demonstrating their own intention to others. The drivers of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) may not be engaged in controlling the vehicle and therefore unavailable for interaction. Based on empirical research on road use interactions, a new form of vehicle lighting signal was developed to indicate AV’s intention. In this study, we used a web-based survey to collect public feedback on a number of different light configurations to communicate five vehicle motions: Slowing down, Waiting, Planning to go, Starting to go, and Going. The results validated the understandability of the concept, but reversed our initial design of the display option. Respondents associated green with a moving vehicle, and red a slowing down or stopped vehicle; and associated a forward moving light with a car that was starting to go or going and a backward flowing light with a vehicle slowing down or stopping.