Exploring Emerging Public Attitudes Towards Autonomous Vehicles

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles promise to introduce artificially intelligent physical agents into uncontrolled social spaces for the first time. Public attitudes suggest uncertainty about the technology, but existing research focuses too much on engineering public acceptance instead of engaging with public concerns. I suggest that autonomous vehicles are a test case of the relationship between the public and artificial intelligence technologies and argue for the importance of a deeper, more carefully theorized understanding of public responses. This chapter reports a series of surveys designed to contribute to that effort.

Appendix

This appendix lists survey items used to build the main scales mentioned in this chapter, provided by replicating the relevant questions (for example, Q13) from the 2017 survey.

Perceptions of AV (PAV) scale

The Perceptions of AV (PAV) scale comprises items in Q13 and Q16. Those items used in the scale are highlighted in italics, and (R) denotes where we reversed the scoring direction for the item, so that higher values in all cases indicate more positive attitudes towards AVs.

‘Please think about your reasons for the choice you made in answering the previous question about driving alongside autonomous (driverless) cars and respond to the next set of questions.’

Q13. ‘Thinking about your choice in the previous question, how much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?’

Response options: Strongly agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree, Strongly disagree, Don’t know.

• Most accidents are caused by human error so autonomous vehicles would be safer

• I wouldn’t mind whether I was driving alongside human drivers or autonomous vehicles

• I don’t know enough about how autonomous vehicles work

• Autonomous cars could malfunction (R)

• As a point of principle, humans should be in control of their vehicles at all times (R)

• I feel that autonomous cars would pose more risk to me than other drivers pose

• Autonomous cars could greatly reduce congestion

• I’d be scared seeing an autonomous car with no driver inside

• I wouldn’t feel in control with autonomous cars on the road around

• Autonomous cars would behave more predictably than human drivers

• Machines don’t have the common sense needed to interact with human drivers (R)

• Machines don’t have emotions so they might be better drivers than humans

• I wouldn’t mind as long as all cars were autonomous but mixing human drivers and autonomous vehicles will not work

• It will become easier to drive my own car as more of the cars around me become autonomous

Q16 ‘Please think about your reasons for the choice you made in answering the previous question about using an autonomous (driverless) car and respond to the next set of questions.

Response options: Strongly agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree, Strongly disagree, Don’t know.

• Most accidents are caused by human error so autonomous vehicles would be safer

• Autonomous cars could malfunction (R)

• I would miss the enjoyment of driving (R)

• I feel that being driven by an autonomous car would be riskier than driving myself

• I would feel uncomfortable if I wasn’t in control of my car (R)

• I would take the opportunity to do other things while the autonomous car takes care of the driving

• It would make no difference to me whether I was in control of the car or not

• Riding in an autonomous car would be easier than driving myself

• I don’t know enough about how autonomous cars work

• I wouldn’t mind as long as the autonomous car did everything and didn’t expect me to take back control sometimes

• I’d like to be able to forget about the driving sometimes

Technological optimism scale

The technological optimism scale comprises items in Q8. Those items used in the scale are highlighted in italics, and (R) denotes where we reversed the scoring direction for the item, so that higher values in all cases indicate more favourable attitudes towards technology.

Q8 ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?’

Response options: Strongly agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Strongly disagree, Don’t know.

• Science and technology make our way of life change too fast (R)

• I’m not interested in new technologies (R)

• We have no option but to trust those governing science

• Science and technology are making our lives healthier, easier and more comfortable

• I enjoy making use of the latest technological products and services when I have the opportunity

• The idea of artificially intelligent robots is scary (R)

• If I’m in a plane I need to know the pilot is there to take over from the autopilot if necessary (R)

• New technologies are all about making profits rather than making people’s lives better (R)

• I am worried about where all this technology is leading (R)

• We have no option but to adapt to the new technologies that are coming

• Machines are taking over some of the roles that humans should have (R)

• The more that we can use technology to control the natural world, the better

• When my safety is involved I’m happy to rely on technology

Driving sociability scale

The driving sociability scale comprises items in Q10 and Q11. Those items used in the scale are highlighted in italics, and (R) denotes where we reversed the scoring direction for the item, so that higher values in all cases indicate more sociable orientations towards driving.

Q10 ‘Please tell us to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements about driving in general.’

Response options: Strongly agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Strongly disagree, Don’t know.

• You need to be able to communicate with other road users when you are driving

• The other motor vehicles all have the same right to be on the road

• As drivers, we all need to help keep the traffic flowing

• Being able to make eye contact with other drivers is an important element of driving

• Each driver has to prioritise their own progress over other people’s (R)

• As drivers we all need to cooperate with the other drivers on the road

Q11 ‘And now, please give us your opinion on the following statements, by telling us for each one how often it applies to you.

Response options: Always, Usually, Sometimes, Occasionally, Never, Don’t know.

• I think of other cars as just traffic rather than thinking about the drivers inside them

• I find that other drivers try to bully me on the road (R)

• I don’t mind being at the back of a queue of traffic, because we all get there at the end

• When I am in a queue of traffic that is merging with another I just force my way in (R)

• When another driver has made way for me I feel it’s my turn to make way for someone else later on

• If another driver impedes me I will impede another driver later on (R)

• When queues of traffic are merging drivers should take turns

• It’s ok for someone to push into a queue if they are in a hurry (R)

• If it slows me down I won’t help other drivers (R)