Virtual Reality Helps Design Safer Self-Driving Taxis

Imagine you're in a taxi with no driver when another passenger collapses or a fire breaks out. Researchers at Loughborough University are using virtual reality to answer exactly these questions, helping design self-driving taxis that can protect everyone in a crisis.

Professor Gary Burnett and his team created VR simulations that place people together as avatars inside autonomous taxis during emergencies. Ninety-one participants, including 10 children and adults with various disabilities, experienced scenarios ranging from medical emergencies to vehicle fires while wearing VR headsets.

The simulations allowed researchers to safely recreate dangerous situations impossible to test in real life. Participants faced flooding, collisions, strangers trying to open doors, and fellow passengers falling ill, all while researchers observed their responses and emotional reactions.

The findings revealed something crucial: barriers in emergencies aren't just physical. How safe people feel varies dramatically based on gender, age, disability, and other characteristics, affecting how confidently they can act or seek help without a human driver present.

"Without a human driver to guide or reassure, automated systems will need to take on a more active role in supporting people, particularly in moments of uncertainty or emergency," said Dr. Clare Mutzenich, Professor of Human and AI Interaction at Loughborough. The research specifically included voices often overlooked in transport planning, from disabled people to neurodivergent users.

In a related study, the same team examined what passengers can safely do while self-driving vehicles operate. Eighty-seven participants completed everyday activities like watching videos, reading, and eating in driving simulators before being asked to take back control.

The results were eye-opening: taking control quickly doesn't always mean taking it safely. Some participants continued watching films on their phones even after resuming manual driving, and very few checked their mirrors before taking over, a crucial safety step.

Why This Inspires

This research represents something bigger than just testing technology. By centering the needs of children, elderly people, disabled passengers, and others who might feel vulnerable, these scientists are building a future where autonomous transport serves everyone, not just the average user.

The work is already informing UK government policy through the Department for Transport and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. Before a single driverless taxi picks up its first real passenger, designers will understand how to build systems that don't just drive themselves but truly care for the people inside.

Phase 2 is now underway, focusing on clearer guidance for safe takeovers. The future of transport is being built with inclusion and safety at its heart.