PI: Bharat Pathivada, Ph.D.
Co-PI: Yao-Jan Wu, Ph.D., P.E
Sponsor: City of Phoenix
Aug. 2026 - July 2027
The University of Arizona is collaborating with the City of Phoenix Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive safety assessment of automated vehicles (AVs) operating in the Phoenix metropolitan area. As SAE Level 4 AV deployment continues to expand across the region, the project will evaluate safety performance using crash records, operational data, field observations, and policy review.
The study will identify safety risks, operational patterns, and potential infrastructure gaps while developing actionable recommendations for AV operations, data sharing, and future deployment. The project will also establish a repeatable monitoring framework to help the City of Phoenix evaluate AV safety as the technology and operating environment continue to evolve.