THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A NATIONAL SCENARIO DATABASE FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES – ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS

This study examines the potential of automated and autonomous vehicles to improve road safety, with particular emphasis on Polish road conditions. The analysis begins with an assessment of the scale and structure of road accidents, identifying human error as the dominant contributing factor. The paper presents the DARTS-PL project, which aims to develop a comprehensive multimodal database for testing vehicles equipped with driving automation at SAE Levels 3–5 under real-world traffic conditions. Particular attention is given to the measurement infrastructure and the role of local factors, including road signage and road network characteristics. Based on the analysis of international and national datasets, key risk factors affecting their performance are identified, including infrastructure complexity and interactions with other road users. The results indicate that the deployment of automated and autonomous vehicles can significantly reduce the number of road accidents, with an estimated reduction of approximately 25% by 2035. Furthermore, the study evaluates the associated socio-economic benefits, demonstrating a potentially substantial decrease in accident-related costs. The findings highlight the importance of integrating technological development with infrastructure adaptation and regulatory frameworks to support the effective deployment of these vehicles.