Perceptions and Attitudes Towards the Deployment of Autonomous and Connected Vehicles: Insights from Las Vegas, Nevada

ABSTRACT

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) are quickly becoming part of our transportation systems, and their use is largely dependent on public perceptions. The objective of this study was to evaluate perceptions of CAVs. Specifically, understanding the differences between people who have ridden a CAV in downtown Las Vegas (shuttle-rider survey) versus those who have not (general survey) yet. Two different survey questionnaires were used to collect data that was analyzed by using penalized logistic regression. Results suggest that people who had exposure to CAVs feel more positively about CAVs. Similarly, young, highly educated, males feel more positively about CAVs than their respective counterparts.

KEYWORDS:

• Automated driving technology
• autonomous vehicles
• autonomous and connected vehicles
• connected and autonomous shuttle bus
• public perception
• Las Vegas

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah Dennis

Sarah Dennis completed her Master’s in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in August 2019. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of California in Davis.

Alexander Paz

Alexander Paz is the Transport Main Roads Chair at the Queensland University of Technology. He is a professional engineer licensed in the State of Nevada and a chartered professional engineer in Australia.

Tan Yigitcanlar

Tan Yigitcanlar is an associate professor of urban studies and planning at the Queensland University of Technology, Australia.