AV vs. HV: Harmony and Challenges Between Autonomous vehicles and Human-Driven Vehicles

The Carnegie Mellon University policy brief, "Mixed-Autonomy Era of Transportation: Resilience & Autonomous Fleet Management," explores the integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and human-driven vehicles (HVs). It emphasizes the altruistic nature of AVs compared to potentially selfish HVs. The study proposes measures like toll exemptions to incentivize AV altruism and discusses the need for balanced centralized and decentralized policies using reinforcement learning. Addressing traffic congestion, the brief recommends incorporating various transportation modes.

However, on the ground in Pittsburgh, real-world experiences with AVs challenge the envisioned benefits. A survey by BikePGH reveals concerns, with people expressing anxiety and distrust toward AVs, particularly in unpredictable pedestrian interactions. Reports cite AVs ignoring crosswalks, exhibiting odd behavior near bike lanes, and failing to provide adequate space during bicycle passes, highlighting challenges in public acceptance and safety perception. Claims of altruistic AI’s in contrast to actual interactions between AV’s and bicycles again show the need to consider the joint cognitive system of any such human-machine team.