Are current roads ready for highly automated driving? A conceptual model for road readiness for AVs applied to the UK city of Leeds

The emergence of Automated Vehicles (AVs) promises a transformative impact on future travel patterns and consequently on the design of urban spaces. Despite the revolutionary prospects, the integration of AVs into existing and near-future road infrastructures presents a complex and unexplored challenge. This paper addresses this critical gap by introducing a novel and comprehensive assessment framework designed to evaluate the readiness of road networks for highly automated vehicles (Level 4 AV) operation. Recognising the uncertainties in automated driving technologies, the study defines two distinct AV capability levels and adopts three potential network scenarios to explore varied technological advancement perspectives and their impact on the suitability of current road network for their use. This multi-scenario approach offers a holistic viewpoint on the prospective circumstances and potential strategies to AV deployment. The proposed framework was empirically applied in a specific area in Leeds, United Kingdom, demonstrating its practical applicability. The findings of this research offer vital insights that contribute to the understanding of AV integration into road networks and support decision-makers and transport planners in developing informed and future-oriented policies, regulations, and guidelines.