UF & UAB’s Phase 2 Demonstration Study: Developing a Model to Support Transportation System Decisions considering the Experiences of Drivers of all Age Groups with Autonomous Vehicle Technology

Older adults (>65 years) account for almost 20% of the population in the United States and prefer driving as their primary mode of transportation but are at greater risk for crash-related injuries and death, compared to younger drivers. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) may hold health and safety benefits for older drivers, if this segment of the population accepts and adopts this technology. To document older drivers’ perceptions toward AVs, this study used a repeated measures crossover design, with random allocation of 104 older drivers who were exposed to (a) an autonomous shuttle (Society of Automotive Engineers Level 4) and (b) a simulator programmed to run in autonomous mode (Society of Automotive Engineers Level 4). Participants completed pre- and post-exposure surveys, to report their adoption preferences and perceptions on nine domains of an Autonomous Vehicle User Perception Survey. A two-way mixed ANOVA was used to analyze the time effect, group effect, and time by group interaction. No group effects were evident, but older drivers’ perceptions of safety, trust, and perceived usefulness of AV technology increased after being exposed to the AV technology. The group by time interaction effects indicated the significance of older adult perceptions pertaining to intention to use, trust, perceived usefulness, control/driving efficacy, and safety. This study provides valuable contributions to the current body of knowledge regarding the determinants of older adult AV technology acceptance practices. Yet, it is recommended that repeated testing take place because different automated systems, levels of technology, contexts, policies, and local conditions may influence older drivers’ perceptions of AV technology.

Project

Status: Active
Funding: $220000
Contract Numbers:
69A3551747104
Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590
Managing Organizations:
Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE)

University of Florida
365 Weil Hall
Gainesville, FL United States 32611
Project Managers:
Tucker-Thomas, Dawn
Performing Organizations:
University of Florida Transportation Institute

P.O. Box 116580
Gainesville, FL United States 32611

University of Alabama, Birmingham

Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
1075 13th Street South
Birmingham, AL United States 35294
Principal Investigators:
Classen, Sherrilene

Sisiopiku, Virginia

Mason, Justin
Start Date: 20200301
Expected Completion Date: 20210831
Actual Completion Date: 0
USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Age groups; Attitudes; Autonomous vehicles; Before and after studies; Drivers; Driving automation levels; Driving simulators; Human factors; Perception; Shuttle buses; Surveys
Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01729166
Record Type: Research project
Source Agency: Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE)
Contract Numbers: 69A3551747104
Files: UTC, RIP
Created Date: Jan 28 2020 12:21PM