Autonomous Vehicle Appearance and Road Users’ Behavior: The Role of Situational Awareness

ABSTRACT Road users often struggle to choose the appropriate behavior when encountering AVs. One possible explanation is that they tend to seek cues from the driver rather than the vehicle itself, leading to missed crucial cues for understanding its intentions. This understanding is a core component of situational awareness (SA) and is essential for responding appropriately in traffic interactions. Recognizing that the vehicle’s appearance can help direct attention to these relevant cues, this study examined how the visual transparency of AV windows, specifically tinted windows compared to a visible non-driving human figure, relates to road users’ SA and behavioral responses. In an online experiment with 378 participants, individuals viewed short video clips from either a pedestrian or driver perspective (representing typical road users). For each clip, they answered questions assessing their understanding of the AV’s intended actions (SA) and their intended behavioral response, such as whether they would choose to cross immediately (considered the most appropriate response in that situation). The results showed a significant relationship between AV appearance and SA accuracy, with the visible-person condition associated with lower situational awareness. The mediation analysis revealed an indirect relationship between AV appearance and behavior through SA, with no significant direct association between AV appearance and behavior. These findings highlight the importance of vehicle appearance, such as tinted windows, in supporting more efficient and predictable interactions between AV and other road users and support the role of SA as a cognitive mechanism through which AV design can influence interaction.