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What defines good driving? This question has challenged researchers, policymakers, and safety experts for over a century. While extensive research and industry standards exist, there has been no universal framework to define and operationalize good driving. As autonomous vehicles (AVs) become more prevalent, this question gains even greater urgency.
Waymo introduces Drivership, a new conceptual framework that examines how driving behavior aligns with societal expectations. By focusing on both safety-critical behaviors (those that directly affect crash risk) and socially aware behaviors (those related to courtesy and customs), Drivership provides a structured way to evaluate driving—whether human, autonomous or somewhere in between.
Key Highlights of the Drivership Framework:
- Aligns Driving Behavior with Societal Expectations
- Evaluates driving based on how well it meets shared social norms.
- Differentiates between safety-critical actions and social driving behavior.
- Three Types of Driving Expectations
- Normative Expectations – How drivers should behave according to laws and societal norms.
- Empirical Expectations – How drivers typically behave based on past observations.
- Furtherance Expectations – How drivers could behave to improve road safety and efficiency.
- Example: Drunk Driving
- Empirical Expectation: Some drivers are intoxicated.
- Normative Expectation: Drivers should be sober.
- Furtherance Expectation: Sober driving enhances safety and the transportation system.
- Waymo’s NIEON Model as a Benchmark
- Represents Non-Impaired drivers with Eyes ON the conflict to set safety standards for AV behavior.
- Supports a data-driven evaluation of autonomous driving performance.
Bridging the Gap Between Safety and Trust
Waymo’s Drivership framework is a work in progress, setting the stage for deeper discussions and future advancements. By defining driving in terms of shared expectations, it helps create autonomous vehicles that are not only safe but also socially aware participants in modern transportation.
As the industry moves forward, Drivership offers a structured way to assess AV safety and build public trust in autonomous driving technology.
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