Research on the impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) on traffic flow: stage 1: evidence review

There is a need for a “systems of systems” approach to understand the various factors that can influence road capacity – including technology, capability, adoption, legality and driver behaviour. There is evidence that the improved provision of data from connected vehicles – and the people in them – has the potential to improve network performance and increase capacity. Significant gaps in knowledge exist concerning the potential impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles, with much uncertainty around the expectations of technical capability. Concerns exist around a low penetration of autonomous vehicles worsening road capacity, particularly on the strategic road network, due to cautious behaviour when mixing with the existing vehicle fleet. There is a clearly potential for conflict between comfort, capacity and safety; trade-offs are likely in this area as the balance between network-optimal and user-preference is found. The key to understanding the impact of CAVs on traffic flow and capacity is too rooted in the capability they will offer – we do not yet know how the market will determine the characteristics of CAVs. This report captures thinking as of early 2016. Technological advancements in particular are advancing at a great rate, and so this report must be considered carefully alongside emerging findings from a wide variety of studies.

• Record URL:
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driverless-vehicles-impacts-on-traffic-flow
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Published in January 2017
• Corporate Authors:

  Department for Transport

  London,   United Kingdom 

  Atkins

  ,    
• Publication Date: 2016-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 39p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated vehicle control; Highway capacity; Highway traffic control; Innovation; Policy; Traffic flow; Vehicle to infrastructure communications; Vehicle to vehicle communications
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ATRI Terms: Autonomous vehicle; Innovation; Policy; Traffic capacity; Traffic flow; Traffic management; Vehicle to roadside communications; Vehicle to vehicle communications
• Subject Areas: Highways; Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01624479
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 30 2017 10:45AM