On face value: a ghost driver field study investigating interactions between pedestrians and a driverless vehicle with anthropomorphic displays

Large, David R.; Harvey, Catherine; Hallewell, Madeline; Li, Xuekun; Burnett, Gary

Abstract

In a novel, on-road study, using a ‘Ghost Driver’ to emulate an automated vehicle (AV), we captured over 10 hours of video (n=520) and 64 survey responses documenting the behaviour and attitudes of pedestrians in response to the AV. Three prototype external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs) described the AV’s behaviour, awareness and intention using elements of anthropomorphism: High (human face), Low (car motif), Abstract (partial representation of human features that lacked precise visual reference); these were evaluated against a (no eHMI) baseline. Despite many pedestrians reporting that they still relied on vehicular cues to negotiate their crossing, there was a desire/expectation expressed for explicit communication with future AVs. High and Low anthropomorphism eHMIs received the most positive responses for clarity, confidence and trust, with High also attracting significantly more/longer glances and the highest preference rating. In contrast, Abstract was considered least clear and subsequently invited the lowest confidence and trust ratings.

Citation

Large, D. R., Harvey, C., Hallewell, M., Li, X., & Burnett, G. (2025). On face value: a ghost driver field study investigating interactions between pedestrians and a driverless vehicle with anthropomorphic displays. Ergonomics, https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2025.2454927

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 9, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Jan 22, 2025
• Publication Date: Jan 22, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jan 9, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 23, 2026
• Journal: Ergonomics
• Print ISSN: 0014-0139
• Electronic ISSN: 1366-5847
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2025.2454927
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/43953451
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00140139.2025.2454927