AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF OPERATING AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE

Systems, methods, and computer program products to enhance the situational competency of a vehicle, when operating at least partially in an autonomous mode, and/or the safe operation of a vehicle, when operating at least partially in an autonomous mode. Such systems, methods, and computer program products are to facilitate operation of a vehicle, when operating at least partially in an autonomous mode, in a multi-lane roadway environment to coordinate a change of lane of the autonomous vehicle from a first lane in which the autonomous vehicle is currently operating and a target lane change area of a second lane. Such coordination is to dynamically take into consideration several operational safety factors within the driving environment, including the presence of one or more vehicles in a third lane adjacent to the target lane area of the second lane and the geometric roadway design.