A review of first responders and autonomous vehicles

The widespread deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is expected to fundamentally alter the transportation sector, and first responders - law enforcement officers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters - are among those who will be most affected. It is essential for their safety and that of those whom they serve that they be adequately prepared to interact with AVs, but despite extensive research on the safety of AVs and how the public will respond to the emerging technology, the integration of and interactions between first responders and AVs has been overlooked. This study evaluated 74 articles to gain a deeper understanding of the current scope of literature on this topic and to provide a comprehensive synthesis of autonomous driving systems in the context of their interactions with first responders. The challenges that arise from the adoption of AVs were also discussed, and eight solutions were proposed. The study found that first responders lack trust in AVs - an important finding that may stem from their receiving insufficient training and/or AVs' inability to effectively maneuver to accommodate emergency vehicles. Providing first responders with vehicles equipped with autonomous driving technologies was considered; however, the manufacturers have to first make decisions about how they should be programmed. This review will broaden AV manufacturers', policymakers', and first responders' understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with interactions between AVs and first responders.