Examining the Impact of Driving Styles of Automated Vehicles and Human Drivers on Driving Behavior: A Driving Simulator Study

As automated vehicles (AVs) progress in driving safely on the road, there is growing concern about the balance and adaptability of their driving styles. This simulator study examines how the driving styles of AVs and human drivers influence drivers’ decisions, behaviors, and trust during interactions in a mixed-traffic environment. In chicken game scenarios, we find that AVs with conservative driving styles are more frequently exploited by drivers, while aggressive drivers are more inclined to exploit AVs. AVs with aggressive driving styles significantly influence driver behavior in lateral interactions. Notably, the conservative driving style of an AV increases drivers’ trust, while the aggressive driving style does not harm it. This indicates that drivers can have a certain degree of confidence in the behavior of AVs with appropriate aggression. Our findings provide insights into how AV design should incorporate scenario-specific adaptive driving styles to balance driver confidence and AV trustworthiness.