Vulnerability and Experience: Unpacking the Dynamics of Trust in Autonomous Vehicle Adoption

This study investigates influential factors impacting public trust in autonomous vehicles (AVs) beyond traditional considerations. It critically examines how perceived vulnerability influences pedestrians’ situational trust in AVs and how prior experiences shape learned trust – delineating impacts of subject matter expertise versus personal interactions with automated systems. Findings reveal a positive relationship between trust and complacency, both instrumental in pedestrian receptivity to AVs. Distinctions emerge between effects of technological experience versus objective knowledge about AVs, suggesting subjective quality of technological encounters could be more decisive than familiarity in evolving public trust toward driverless transportation.