Modeling Other Road Users’ Acceptance to an Automated Shuttle Service

To guarantee a smooth implementation of automated vehicles on the common road, it is essential to have the public acceptance of this technology. Looking to the literature, less is known about the acceptance of the other road users (i.e., conventional drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians). Based on social psychology models of acceptance, we study the determinants of the other road users’ acceptance for the implementation of an automated shuttle between Nantes and Carquefou (France). With a sample of 229 participants and using Structural Equation Modeling, we identify the main determinants of the behavioral intention to interact with the automated vehicle. Relying on the findings of the tested model, we propose recommendations for industrials and policymakers to increase public acceptance.