Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on Traffic Crashes in Comparison with Conventional Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles (AV) have transformed the transportation industry in recent years because of their potential to reduce the number of traffic deaths and injuries, and it is conceivable that when they are integrated with other rideshare networks, they will maximize the utilization of both technologies and become a major mode of public transportation. Safety is the primary concern of major hurdle, and some studies have found that even though AVs have the potential to eliminate driver error, it is unclear whether the magnitude of damage caused by them will be less than that of human-driven conventional vehicles (CV). Since on-demand autonomous vehicles are the future of mobility, and safety remains a major hurdle for their development and commercialization, it is essential that a thorough analysis of the effects of AV-based transportation on traffic crashes be conducted. The goal of this research is to compare the on-road safety of AVs by examining disengagements and actual crashes with CVs. Statistical data from websites like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC), as well as data from academic works and research articles, were analyzed, and the results showed AVs have greater potential to reduce injury and fatal crashes compared to CVs; intersections are the hotspots of AV crashes due to the complex traffic environment; and the majority of AV crashes involve rear-end crashes, with CVs hitting the rear of AVs. The findings of this research will aid safety officials in evaluating and enhancing the safety performance of AVs.