What’s ‘Driving’ Adoption of Automated Vehicles?

Connected Autonomous vehicles (AVs) offer great promise for unprecedented improvements in mobility and safety. For this to happen, AVs must be purchased, or shared, and used. However, barriers to implementation exist. Basic questions about consumer knowledge, perceptions and intended use remain either unanswered or under-investigated. This paper identifies determinants that drive acceptance of automated vehicles with a focus on perceptions of the benefits and risks associated with the technology. The authors contribute to the literature by testing the role of varying levels of automation technology on acceptance. Their findings identify the importance of individuals' existing technology attitudes, and personal characteristics, in understanding their AV adoption decision. The respondents state that they will change their use of in-vehicle time given different levels of automation. At higher levels of automation, the authors find a stated willingness of ‘drivers’ to engage in four new in-car behaviors: sleeping, watching movies/TV, using virtual reality (VR) and driving intoxicated/using drugs. This change in behavior is likely to lead to change in the use of private automobiles since vehicle travel time is one of the largest costs associated with travel. The authors also find that individuals focused on prevention of challenges will be less willing to embrace a large scale change such as AV adoption. However, this also provides communication insights where highlighting prevention of motor vehicle accidents, a potential outcome of widespread AV adoption, may enhance opportunities to engage with prevention oriented consumers.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADB10 Standing Committee on Traveler Behavior and Values. Alternate title: What's "Driving" Adoption of Automated Vehicles: Attitudes and Perceptions of Benefits and Risks
• Authors:
  • Noblet, Caroline L
  • Rubin, Jonathan
  • 0000-0002-4793-8499
  • Eslin, Allyson
  • Jennings, Ryan
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 5p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance; Attitudes; Automobile ownership; Autonomous vehicles; Connected vehicles; Consumer behavior; Intelligent vehicles; Mode choice; Stated preferences; Technological innovations; Travel surveys; User benefits
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01657476
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-01448
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 24 2018 9:24AM