Driver’s views on driverless vehicles: Public perspectives on defining and using autonomous cars

To investigate how members of the public define autonomous vehicles, including perceived advantages, disadvantages and reliability. A series of qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 members of the public in Switzerland who were recruited online and through snowballing. Interviews were transcribed and coded, before being subjected to thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged from the interviews. These included differing perceptions of the level of self-automation of smart cars, across a spectrum from partial automation to fully autonomous vehicles; a variety of views on the perceived pros and cons of smart cars, including fewer accidents and potential loss of freedom; and opinions concerning whether a car would be ‘better than human’, and related issues including whether such cars should or could be subject to human override. Almost all participants saw the introduction of truly smart cars as beneficial, although many said they would not be early adopters and would always want humans to have the ability to take control. The results reveal generally positive attitudes to smart cars, but also some poor understanding of the different levels of automation that such cars can have, and potentially unrealistic expectations regarding the capacity of humans to re-assume control in emergencies. These factors must be considered by legislators and others involved in the introduction of smart cars onto public roads.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2021.100446
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198221001524
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/25901982
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2021 Christophe O. Schneble and David M. Shaw. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Schneble, Christophe O
  • Shaw, David M
• Publication Date: 2021-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 2590-1982
  • Serial URL: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/transportation-research-interdisciplinary-perspectives
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automobile drivers; Autonomous vehicles; Driving automation levels; Public opinion
• Geographic Terms: Switzerland
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01783433
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 28 2021 11:30AM