Mapping Pedestrian-to-Driver Gestures: Implications for Autonomous Vehicle Bidirectional Interaction

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) necessitate a transformation in how pedestrians and vehicles communicate. Existing research largely focuses on unidirectional communication from AVs to pedestrians. However, traffic interactions are inherently reciprocal and social. To lay the foundation for truly bidirectional interactions with AVs, this study maps the diverse scenarios, messages, and gestures used by pedestrians to initiate communication with human drivers in today’s traffic. Following an online ethnography approach, we conducted an analysis of 20 Reddit discussions comprising 1,094 comments. Our findings reveal a rich communication landscape where pedestrians use gestures to signal urgency, negotiate space, convey warnings, and express needs beyond basic crossing intent. We highlight individual, cultural, and geographical variations in gestures. Based on this expanded understanding, we propose design implications for AV interactions, crucial for promoting safer, more intuitive, and trust-building communication between pedestrians and AVs.