Effects of Anthropomorphic Driving Vehicles on Traffic Flow

Autonomous driving has many positive impacts, such as improving driver and passenger safety, comfort, and traffic efficiency, but all these advantages are based on people’s trust and acceptance of this mode of driving. Anthropomorphic driving can enhance the trust and comfort of drivers and passengers and is seen as a feasible measure to increase people’s acceptance of autonomous driving. This paper reports the microscopic traffic simulation of three scenarios around a frequently congested intersection, using non-automated vehicles, autonomous driving vehicles, and anthropomorphic driving vehicles to explore their impact on traffic efficiency. The result shows that, compared to non-automated vehicles, both autonomous vehicles and anthropomorphic driving vehicles can improve traffic efficiency during congested periods, increase traffic volume per unit time, reduce the total travel time and time loss, and have a higher average speed. Compared to autonomous vehicles, anthropomorphic driving has a shorter total travel time and a similar time loss. In terms of average speed, anthropomorphic driving performed better than autonomous driving in terms of both congested and non-congested times. In summary, compared to non-automated vehicles, autonomous driving vehicles have a positive effect on improving traffic efficiency, while, compared to autonomous driving, anthropomorphic driving has more advantages in increasing traffic efficiency and reducing traffic congestion.