Experience of drivers of all age groups in accepting autonomous vehicle technology

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) may benefit the health and safety of drivers across the driving lifespan, but perceptions of drivers are not known. Lived experiences of drivers exposed to AVs in combination with surveys, can more accurately reveal their perceptions. We quantified facilitators and barriers from data collected in older (N = 104) and younger drivers (N = 106). Perceptions were assessed via Autonomous Vehicle User Perception Survey (AVUPS) subscales (i.e., intention to use, barriers, well-being, and acceptance) pertaining to group exposure (simulator first [SF] or autonomous shuttle first [ASF]). We quantified the effects of group, time, and group × time interaction. Multiple linear regressions identified predictors (e.g., optimism, ease of use, life space, driving exposure, and driving difficulty, age, gender, race) of the AVUPS subscales. The regression analyses indicated that optimism and ease of use positively predicted intention to use, barriers, well-being, and the total acceptance score. Driving difficulty significantly predicted barriers, whereas miles driven negatively predicted well-being. The regression results indicated that predictors of user acceptance of AV technology included age, race, optimism, ease of use, with 33.6% of the variance in acceptance explained. The findings reveal foundational information about driver acceptance, intention to use, barriers, and well-being related to AVs. New knowledge pertains to how demographics, optimism, ease of use, life space, driving exposure, and driving difficulty inform AV acceptance. We provided strategies to inform city planners and other stakeholders on improving upon deployment practices of AVs.