Interaction of Familiarity, Safety Perceptions, and Willingness to Use Autonomous Vehicles
Interaction of Familiarity, Safety Perceptions, and Willingness to Use Autonomous Vehicles in A Structural Equation Modeling Framework
Project Duration: 12 months
Project Budget (Federal UTC Funds): N/A
Project Budget (Cost-share): N/A
Institution: Arizona State University
Abstract
Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are an important technology in the future of transportation systems. While attitudes and perceptions towards AV have been studied in the past, the role of different levels of AV familiarity in shaping relative attitudes and expected adoption has been underexplored. Using the TOMNET Transformative Technologies in Transportation (T4) Survey data that serves as the base for this study, 47 percent were somewhat or very familiar with AVs while 36 percent had heard but did not know much about them and 15 percent had never heard of AVs before. Based on these survey results, the level of familiarity increases among higher educated people, ridehailing systems users, people with variety-seeking attitudes, male, non-Hispanic, and higher-income people. The goal of this project is to study the multivariate relationships between different levels of AV familiarity, positive perceptions toward AV, and potential adoption of AV in the future, accounting for environmental friendliness, tech savviness, and also general socioeconomic attributes. To accomplish that, a structural equation model was estimated. The results of this study will help policymakers to understand better the effects of familiarity and perceptions on willingness to use AVs, allowing for more informed decisions regarding public education strategies and investments to ensure the smooth adoption of an automated future.