Are We Ready for Automated Vehicles? Evaluating Automated Driving Systems’ Safety and Reliability Using Propensity Score Matching

Automated Driving Systems (ADS) promise transformative changes in transportation by enhancing road safety, efficiency, and accessibility. However, integrating ADS into existing traffic systems introduces new safety challenges, particularly concerning remote driver/operator involvement. Analyzing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ADS crash data from July 2021 to March 2024 (N=580), the study investigates remote driver/operator involvement in crash injuries using the Propensity Score Matching while controlling for confounding factors. The study’s findings indicate that a remote driver/operator, as opposed to other drivers, is associated with a significantly higher likelihood of injury in ADS-related crashes, with an odds ratio of 1.310. Crashes involving remote drivers/operators have a higher injury rate (22.95%) than those without remote involvement (8.52%). The study also highlights the association of other controlling factors with ADS crash outcomes. Crashes involving vulnerable road users, like pedestrians and cyclists, significantly increase the injury risk (odds ratio 4.338). Higher pre-crash speeds are strongly associated with increased injury likelihood, with odds ratios of 2.593 for speeds > 25 mph. Rear-end collisions show a pronounced effect on injury risk (odds ratio 5.983). Other key factors positively associated with ADS injury crashes are crashes on highways/freeways and intersections, dark lighting and non-clear weather conditions, and collisions involving trucks. These findings underscore the need for improvements in ADS technology to enhance safety. The study provides insights for manufacturers, planners, and policymakers, guiding future advancements and safety protocols to better integrate ADS into existing transportation systems.