A matched case-control analysis of autonomous vs human-driven vehicle accidents

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 4931 - 12
• Main Authors: Abdel-Aty, Mohamed, Ding, Shengxuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 18.06.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/166/986; 706/689/2788; 706/703/559; Accident data; Accidents; Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Advanced driver assistance systems; Automation; Automobile Driving - statistics & numerical data; Automobiles - statistics & numerical data; Autonomous vehicles; Case-Control Studies; Driving ability; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; multidisciplinary; Safety; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Traffic accidents & safety; Vehicles
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48526-4

Despite the recent advancements that Autonomous Vehicles have shown in their potential to improve safety and operation, considering differences between Autonomous Vehicles and Human-Driven Vehicles in accidents remain unidentified due to the scarcity of real-world Autonomous Vehicles accident data. We investigated the difference in accident occurrence between Autonomous Vehicles’ levels and Human-Driven Vehicles by utilizing 2100 Advanced Driving Systems and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and 35,113 Human-Driven Vehicles accident data. A matched case-control design was conducted to investigate the differential characteristics involving Autonomous’ versus Human-Driven Vehicles’ accidents. The analysis suggests that accidents of vehicles equipped with Advanced Driving Systems generally have a lower chance of occurring than Human-Driven Vehicles in most of the similar accident scenarios. However, accidents involving Advanced Driving Systems occur more frequently than Human-Driven Vehicle accidents under dawn/dusk or turning conditions, which is 5.25 and 1.98 times higher, respectively. Our research reveals the accident risk disparities between Autonomous Vehicles and Human-Driven Vehicles, informing future development in Autonomous technology and safety enhancements. Through a matched case-control analysis this study reveals accident risk disparities between autonomous and human-driven vehicles. It suggests that accidents of vehicles equipped with Advanced Driving Systems generally have lower occurrence chance than human-driven ones in most scenarios.