Gaps and Opportunities in Accessibility Policy for Autonomous Vehicles

Several companies are creating prototypes of AVs specifically designed to cater to the travel needs of disabled individuals. Once autonomous vehicle technology is sufficiently mature, they have the potential to help disabled Americans achieve their desired level of mobility (Claypool et al.). While autonomous vehicles are being built with the purpose of curbing people’s need to operate the vehicles, lack of ability to drive is not the only barrier people with disabilities face while traveling. The simple acts of entering and getting out of the vehicle might pose difficulties for many disabled people, not just wheelchair users. This makes well-thought-out considerations for people with disabilities essential at the early stages of design and development. The objective of this white paper is to recommend specific policy and wording changes in relevant Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations to accommodate and properly regulate automated transit services represented by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) AAV (Accessible Autonomous Vehicle).

• Record URL:
  https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mti_publications/369/
• Summary URL:
  https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/2106-Riggs-Pande-RB-Accessibility-Policy-Autonomous-Vehicles.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/60217
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Mineta Transportation Institute

  College of Business
  San José State University
  San Jose, CA  United States  95192-0219

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  ProspectSV

  ,    

  Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

  3331 North First Street, Building B2
  San Jose, CA  United States  95134-1927
• Authors:
  • Riggs, William
  • Pande, Anurag
• Publication Date: 2021-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 26p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Autonomous vehicles; Persons with disabilities; Policy; Public transit; Regulation
• Identifier Terms: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
• Subject Areas: Law; Policy; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01781806
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: Project 2106
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 20 2021 2:52PM