Epistemic Injustice in Mixed Traffic

This paper explores the phenomenon of epistemic injustice in mixed traffic systems, with a focus on the dynamics between human drivers and autonomous vehicles (AVs). It employs Miranda Fricker's concept of hermeneutical injustice to illustrate how certain social groups are marginalized by being denied access to the collective interpretive resources essential for understanding and articulating their experiences. The study identifies testimonial injustice, where human drivers’ experiences are undervalued by AVs, and hermeneutical injustice, stemming from the absence of shared interpretive frameworks between humans and AVs, leading to miscommunication. The paper also delves into the epistemic resource gap, contrasting human drivers’ tacit knowledge with AVs’ machine knowledge, and discusses how this gap exacerbates epistemic injustice. The coexistence of these knowledge types in mixed traffic environments poses significant challenges for achieving effective and equitable human–machine interactions. The paper concludes by proposing an institutionalist approach to address epistemic injustice, advocating for institutional changes that foster more inclusive interpretive frameworks, ensuring that the perspectives of marginalized groups are considered in the development, deployment, and governance of AV technology.