Autonomous Vehicles and Their Implications on Future Road Design and Safety

Abstract

The significant development of autonomous vehicles, also known as self-driving cars, is ready to bring a large changeover into the world of transportation and the planning of roads and related infrastructural changes. This paper embarks upon a thorough literature review of the current and emerging trends of autonomous vehicles deployment and its resultant influence upon the adaptability of infrastructural changes, traffic safety, mixed traffic performance, and overall socio-economic implications. The scouting of literature through various reputable studies and publications across various databases starting from the year 2010 and up to 2025, provides a concise understanding of the trends towards roadway redesign, reflecting the scope of easing the geometric constraints of the human element, the incorporation of Vehicle to Infrastructure, and the scope of standardizing signs and real-time information systems. autonomous vehicles are found to be capable of drastic reduction of accidents caused due to the intervention of the human element through advanced driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, but the scope of influence within low-light conditions and at complex junctions and mixed traffic conditions remains a concern. The aspect of policies and the scopes of appropriate and accurate governance and regulation are found to be of paramount importance to ensure smooth and safe functioning of autonomous vehicles, particularly within the boundaries of emerging nations that are yet to develop world-class infrastructural networks. The simulation studies also confirm that Shared Autonomous Vehicles are capable of drastically reducing the costs of travel and waiting, as well as the need for parking spaces, through various management aspects, and are also adaptable to the geographical scenarios of modern cities.