Tracking Longitudinal Changes in Awareness, Usage, and Trust in Autonomous Vehicles: Evidence from Large-Scale,...

Area of Science:

• Transportation technology
• Public opinion research
• Human-computer interaction

Background:

• Assessing public attitudes toward autonomous vehicles (AVs) is vital for understanding adoption barriers.
• Limited longitudinal data exists to track public trust and experience with AV technology over time.
• Societal integration of AVs requires robust data on public perception and acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine trends in public awareness, usage, and trust in AVs using longitudinal data.
• To determine how exposure to AVs influences public trust and acceptance.
• To identify demographic disparities in AV awareness, usage, and trust.

Main Methods:

• Utilized three waves of survey data from a nationally representative longitudinal panel (2023-2025).
• Employed chi-squared and two-sample proportion tests to analyze trends in awareness and use.
• Applied difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis to assess the impact of AV exposure on trust.

Main Results:

• Observed a gradual increase in AV awareness and usage across the study period.
• Individuals with prior AV experience showed significantly higher trust post-exposure.
• Persistent demographic differences noted: younger, higher-income, educated individuals showed more trust; women and older/lower-income groups expressed more hesitancy.

Conclusions:

• Direct interaction with AVs is a critical driver for building public trust, more so than mere awareness.
• Demonstration initiatives and public education are essential for deeper AV integration.
• Monitoring and addressing demographic disparities are crucial for equitable AV technology access.