Users' acceptance of private automated vehicles: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sherrie-Anne Kaye; Klaire Somoray; David Rodwell; Ioni Lewis

doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2021.10.002

Users' acceptance of private automated vehicles: A systematic review and meta-analysis

J Safety Res. 2021 Dec:79:352-367. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2021.10.002. Epub 2021 Oct 21.

Authors

Sherrie-Anne Kaye¹, Klaire Somoray², David Rodwell³, Ioni Lewis⁴

Affiliations

¹ Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. Electronic address: s1.kaye@qut.edu.au.
² James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsvile, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: klaire.somoray@jcu.edu.au.
³ Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. Electronic address: d3.rodwell@qut.eduu.au.
⁴ Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. Electronic address: i.lewis@qut.edu.au.

PMID: 34848015
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2021.10.002

Abstract

Introduction: This research systematically reviewed relevant studies on users' acceptance of conditional (Level 3) to full (Level 5) automated vehicles when such vehicles are to be used privately (herein referred to as 'private automated vehicles or private AVs).

Method: The search followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, and was undertaken in three databases: APA PsycINFO, Transport Research International Documentation, and Web of Science. Articles were required to focus on individuals' acceptance of private SAE Level 3-5 AVs. Acceptance was defined as individuals' attitudes towards or intentions and/or willingness to use AVs in the future. A total of 2,354 articles were identified in the database search. Thirty-five articles were included in the review, six of which included multiple studies and/or comparison groups.

Results: Most studies (n = 31) applied self-reported measures to assess user acceptance together with a range of psychosocial factors predicting such acceptance. The meta-analytic correlations revealed that perceived behavioral control, perceived benefits/usefulness, perceived ease of use, and subjective/social norms had significant positive pooled relationships with attitudes and intentions. Trust and sensation seeking also had significant positive pooled correlations with intentions, while knowledge of AVs had a significant and negative pooled correlation with intentions. Age did not show any significant pooled relationship with attitudes, intentions, or willingness.

Conclusions: The findings obtained from the systematic review and meta-analysis provide support for psychosocial models to aid understanding of users' acceptance of private AVs. Practical applications: Examining acceptance of AVs after participants have experienced these vehicles on closed tracks or open roads would advance contemporary knowledge of users' intentions to use these vehicles in the future. Further, experiencing these vehicles firsthand may also help with addressing any perceived barriers reducing acceptance of future use of private AVs.

Keywords: Attitudes; Autonomous vehicles; Intentions; Psychosocial factors; Willingness.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Attitude
Autonomous Vehicles*
Humans
Intention*