Traffic Accidents with Autonomous Vehicles: Type of Collisions, Manoeuvres and Errors of Conventional Vehicles’ Drivers

Abstract Autonomous vehicles have the potential to dramatically reduce traffic accidents. This assumption is based on the fact that autonomous vehicles eliminate the impact of a human factor on the occurrence of a traffic accident. Autonomous vehicle’ testing in real traffic conditions is carried out worldwide. In this paper, we analyzed traffic accidents with autonomous vehicles that occurred in the US state of California in the period from 2015 to 2017. In order to better recognize the characteristics of traffic accidents with autonomous vehicles, we were carried out a comparative analysis of traffic accidents with only conventional vehicles at locations where occurred traffic accidents with autonomous vehicles. During the analysis of traffic accidents, we have put emphasis on the type of collision, manoeuvres and errors of the drivers of conventional vehicles that led to the traffic accident. Applying statistical analysis, we were found that the type of collision “rear-end” more often in traffic accidents with autonomous vehicles. Types of collisions “pedestrian” and “broadside” were less in traffic accidents with autonomous vehicles. Drivers’ manoeuvres of conventional vehicles do not differ depending on whether an autonomous vehicle is involved in the traffic accident. Drivers’ errors of conventional vehicles that are more often in accidents with autonomous vehicles are “unsafe speed” and “following too closely”. The obtained results were used to propose measures that will improve communication between autonomous vehicles and drivers’ conventional vehicle.