Virtual pedestrians pave way to safer roads for driverless cars

A Volvo Car equipped with self-driving highway software is parked at the autonomous vehicle testing facility AstaZero on the outskirts of Boras, near Gothenburg, Sweden February 22, 2019. REUTERS/Esha Vaish

GOTHENBURG: A "virtual human" suddenly steps out at a blind bend, but the engineer in the Volvo car's driving seat on the test track doesn't flinch, leaving it to software to take evasive action.

Private test tracks like the one owned by Sweden's AstaZero are playing an increasing role as manufacturers like Volvo put self-driving cars through their paces following high-profile setbacks on public roads, auto executives say.