Machine Learning Assessment of Crash Severity in ADS and ADAS-L2 Involved Crashes with NHTSA Data

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Abstract
As the deployment of Automated Driving Systems (ADS) and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS-L2) expands, understanding their real-world safety performance becomes essential. This study examines the severity and contributing factors of crashes involving vehicles equipped with ADS and ADAS-L2 technologies using NHTSA data. Using machine learning models on crash datasets from 2021 to 2024, this research identifies patterns and risk factors influencing injury outcomes. After data preprocessing and handling missing values for severity classification, four models were trained: logistic regression, random forest, SVM, and XGBoost. XGBoost outperformed the others for both ADS and ADAS-L2, achieving the highest accuracy and recall. Variable importance analysis showed that for ADS crashes, interactions with other road users and poor lighting were the strongest predictors of injury severity, while for ADAS-L2 crashes, fixed object collisions and low light conditions were most influential. From a policy and engineering perspective, this study highlights the need for standardized crash reporting and improved ADS object detection and pedestrian response. It also emphasizes effective human–machine interface design and driver training for partial automation. Unlike previous research, this study conducts comparative model-based evaluations of both ADS and ADAS-L2 using recent crash reports to inform safety standards and policy frameworks.
Funding Information
  • Morgan State University
  • U.S. Department of Transportation

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