Research Summary: On Being Prepared: Automated Vehicle Incident Management Exercise Practices

This research paper introduces the application of established incident management (IM) exercise practices to the emerging field of automated vehicles (AVs). It emphasizes the critical role of exercises, ranging from workshops to full-scale drills, in developing and assessing the capabilities required for efficient and effective AV incident response. The study aims to identify gaps and build capacity within AV incident management programs by integrating existing IM methodologies with the specific challenges of this new technology.

Why it matters

The integration of robust incident management practices, through structured exercises, is vital for the safe deployment and public acceptance of automated vehicles. This proactive approach helps identify systemic weaknesses and operational gaps before critical incidents occur, thereby enhancing overall resilience and minimizing potential societal and economic disruptions from AV-related events.

Key insights

• Incident management has broadened significantly over time to encompass diverse hazards and systems.
• Exercises are a fundamental tool for developing effective incident management programs, acting as a substitute for real-life experience.
• Such exercises contribute to enterprise resilience and operational readiness.
• Effective exercises are designed by IM practitioners to build capabilities for efficient and effective incident response.
• The research combines policy and established incident management practices with the specific context of automated vehicles.
• Exercises are crucial for identifying gaps in response capabilities and developing necessary capacity within the AV sector.
• Various exercise types exist, including workshops, tabletops, drills, and full-scale exercises.

Source

arXiv — Computers and Society — https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.04777