Fully autonomous cars are expected to dramatically increase driving safety when they eventually hit the roads, but it could cause new hazards for other road users. And to be successful, people have to actually want them on the roads. "We are now considering how society in general is going to interact with these vehicles," Shutko said. "I think it will help with overall acceptance of them." Details: Ford teamed up with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute for the study.

Last month, a bizarre video showing a man disguised as a car seat while driving a silver van went viral, before it was revealed that the stunt was part of an autonomous car test. Now, Ford has admitted that it was in on the research. In a blog post, the firm said it was involved in the stunt that shocked the internet and Virginia residents, who saw the car on the roads and thought it didn't have a single human inside. The test was designed to learn how hand waves and other informal language between pedestrians and drivers - and the lack thereof when cars go driverless - affects driving. It's been known the viral video showing a man disguised in a car seat costume controlling a silver van was part of a self-driving car test and not just a spoof, but it's now been revealed Ford was in on it In August, Virginia residents were shocked to see a car with no driver on the streets.

Last month, Northern Virginia residents were startled to see a grey Ford Transit Connect van motoring around their neighborhood--without a driver inside. OK, not quite: Further inspection revealed that there was a driver inside but that he was concealed inside a costume that made him look like an empty car seat. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute took credit--nay, responsibility--for car seat man but wouldn't reveal more. Today, we know the truth. Car seat man was part of a Ford-funded study by researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute into how autonomous vehicles will interact with humans on the road.