The Potential of Autonomous Vehicles to Improve Road Safety and Sustainability: An Empirical Study of Driver Acceptance of Connected Technology in the UK

Abstract

Traffic levels have increased such that congestion is a major occurrence in many urban areas, creating uncertainty around journey times as well as more incidents with significant damage and accidents, placing lives at major risk. Our focus is on the development of mobile connective technology, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), where vehicle manufacturers have begun to devise real-time travel information systems that may reduce traffic delays (and hence pollution) and the possibility to improve road safety and travel for vehicle users. Transport fleets have increased over time, leading to increasing damage and accidents, placing lives at major risk and creating uncertainty. Given this context, there is interest in using autonomous vehicles (AVs) to improve efficiencies and safety in the transport sector for commercial journeys as well as passenger vehicles. The existing literature on the acceptance of autonomous vehicles has been developing; however, the study of users' acceptance of emerging autonomous vehicles and connected technology is still in its infancy. This research explores the user perspective with regard to relevant factors and the potential of connected technology to overcome the shortcomings of sensors for autonomous vehicles such as cameras, radar, ultrasonic and LiDAR during adverse driving conditions. In this study, we supplement the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with driver context (from pervasive computing studies) and technology attributes (compatibility, trust and safety) with some personal attributes to investigate non-professional and professional drivers’ perspectives. The respondent data obtained from 203 users in the UK were analysed quantitatively using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to establish relationships amongst factors that influence user’s attitudes to these emerging technologies. The study results indicated that the factors that most influence users' perceptions of AVs were shown to be perceived usefulness, driver context, and trust, which demonstrates that TAM is still relevant to understanding users' attitudes towards AVs. In addition, it signifies the relevance of pervasive computing as a body of study that contributes to user perceptions of connected technology in terms of driver context. Further study into individual attributes such as personal innovativeness is strongly recommended to better understand users' attitudes towards connected technology and mobility.