TRB Pubsindex
Text Size:
x

« Prev Next »

Return to Results | New Search

Bookmark and Share

Title:

Perception of Safety of Automated Vehicles: Age and the Influence of the Source and Content of Safety-related Messages

Accession Number:

01763674

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

The introduction of automated vehicle (AV) technologies to the roadways has the potential to improve road safety and reduce traffic crashes and associated adverse outcomes. As a cutting-edge technology where few have personal experience, individuals’ initial perceptions of the safety of AVs will likely stem from communications originating from a number of industry stakeholders, including AV companies themselves, outside regulators, and governing bodies. There will likely be differences in the relative influence of these messages depending on the source and content of information. Considering that aging is commonly associated with a reduction of driving, older adults may prove to be a population on the forefront of AV adoption and it is especially important to understand what factors influence their perceptions of AVs. A survey instrument was developed to both implicitly and explicitly estimate how personal perceptions of AV safety are influenced by safety messages from different sources. Analysis of the implicit measure revealed that decreasing age was generally associated with higher perceptions of AV safety. Compared to adults of higher ages, younger adults were particularly influenced by positive safety-related information provided by average AV crash rates and official statements from AV companies. When measured explicitly, increased age was associated with a larger preference for safety-related messages from safety advocacy groups and a decreased preference for information from average crash rates and AV companies. Results are discussed in terms of how safety related messages from various stakeholders might be utilized to affect perceptions of AVs across adulthood.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AME50 Standing Committee on Accessible Transportation and Mobility.

Report/Paper Numbers:

TRBAM-21-01919

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

Authors:

Best, Ryan
Fraade-Blanar, Laura
Blumenthal, Marjory S

Pagination:

18p

Publication Date:

2021

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2021-1-5 to 2021-1-29
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board; Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; References; Tables

Subject Areas:

Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2021 Paper #TRBAM-21-01919

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Dec 23 2020 11:08AM