User Acceptance and Public Perception Regarding Automated Driving Systems

Fully Automated Driving System (ADS) is one of the most innovative and  fundamentally disruptive changes in transportation. This technology has  the potential to resolve or mitigate current transportation problems,  including reducing traffic accidents, congestion, energy consumption, and pollution. However, the extent of these impacts will depend heavily on public perception and widespread adoption of ADSs. To gain a better understanding of user acceptance and public perception related to ADS, extensive interviews were conducted with Tesla end-users who have experience using partial ADS (i.e., Autopilot) as well as with transportation experts to identify policy gaps related to ADS deployment and adoption. Several focus groups with different stakeholder groups were also organized and an online survey was administered to engage the broader public on these issues. Key findings from this research are presented below and offer insights public agencies can use to develop policy that benefits road users as well as the general public.