A study toward driverless mobility acceptance in low-density areas

New mobility transport systems are expected to be autonomously driven. Even if public interest and a priori acceptability of such systems are high, there is only a few studies with people that already experienced an automated mobility system. This paper presents the results of a questionnaire study after experience the automated vehicle in the Tornado project. 155 users tested the vehicle in an itinerary of 6.5 km with an average speed of 25 km/h and a maximum speed of 50 km/h including straight stretches, intersections, traffic lights, roundabouts, narrow roads and a tunnel. Questionnaire content is based on some of the determinants of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and car technology acceptance models (CTAM) together with an additional determinant introduced to analyze if vehicle performance seems natural. Usefulness, safety and enjoyment of automated vehicles already claimed in other projects are here confirmed even if speed is increased compared to previous projects. The increase in the maximum speed is not directly associated to a reduction on the safety feeling on-board. Answers have also been correlated to demographic characteristics of respondents, confirming some findings in the literature, and adding new ones related to previous autonomous vehicle experience and education level.