Directional Preference Based on Hand Dominance

An Autonomous Vehicle’s (AV) job is to steer and direct the car. Our study examined whether people would steer an AV to the left or right when it malfunctions after a T–intersection during a simulation. We hypothesized that when faced with a T–intersection where the self– driving vehicle goes straight, participants are more likely to turn in the direction of their dominant hand. Previous research suggests that people would turn to their dominant hand’s direction due to cognitive bias. Individuals exhibit a natural bias toward movement aligned with dominant hands, often it is their right-hand that plays a steady and adjusting role. This preference can be explained by muscle memory as well as motor control. Individuals develop both in their dominant hand through repeated use, which can create a sense of familiarity and confidence when moving in that direction. To test this hypothesis, participants will be asked to hold the wheel with both hands during the simulation, while having the AV car stay straight in a T– intersection, participants will be asked to either turn left or right to avoid a crash. We are currently collecting the data. Keywords: Autonomous Vehicles (AV), right-handed, T–intersection, dominant hand, bias.