Comparative conflict analysis between autonomous and human-operated vehicles with pedestrians at unsignalized crosswalks

Unsignalized crosswalks remain the most vulnerable scenario where pedestrians are exposed to the highest risks. With the imminent introduction of autonomous vehicles on public roads, safe encounters with pedestrians in these critical environments presents a significant challenge. Our study develops a rigorous methodology to quantitatively assess these dynamics in real-world mixed traffic conditions. We implemented a system that processes video data from on-street cameras to evaluate risks in vehicle-pedestrian interactions by computing key conflict measures, such as the Time-to-Collision (TTC). The analysis conducted at an unsignalized pedestrian crossing enabled a comparative evaluation between conventional and autonomous vehicles. Results highlight a higher incidence of severe conflicts in interactions with human-operated vehicles, suggesting that the cautious programming of autonomous vehicles can significantly contribute to pedestrian safety. Our findings also reveal an impact on the pedestrian decision-making process based on the type of vehicle approaching the crosswalk.