Barriers & Facilitators of People with Disabilities in Accepting & Adopting Autonomous Shared Mobility Services
Research Team
Dr. Sherrilene Classen (UF)
Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku (UAB)
Dr. Justin Mason (UF)
Dr. Nicole Stetten (UF)
Final Technology Transfer Report
What is the current issue? The introduction of automated shared mobility services will profoundly affect traffic congestion in the short, medium, and long term. The size and type of impact will depend on two main factors: The people with disabilities (PwDs) adoption of automated shared mobility services and (2) the level of adoption of the technology. First, the PwDs, mostly driven by caregivers to their destinations of choice, will have to relinquish using the private automobile and accept and adopt the automated shared mobility services. Second, and important for this project, the rate of user adoption among PwDs is expected to become universal, so understanding what limits or enhances adoption practices, is essential to better estimate its effect on congestion. This project will obtain and analyze information on the perceptions, i.e., thoughts, values, believes, and attitudes of 50 PwDs pertaining to accepting automated shared mobility services, and compare it to data already collected on 104 older drivers and 106 younger and middle-age drivers. Each of the PwDs will complete surveys evaluating acceptance/readiness/perceptions prior to, and then after riding in an autonomous shuttle (Level 4, SAE Guidelines).
What will the research produce? This study will examine the autonomous vehicles adoption preferences of PwDs and compare those to different age groups (younger, middle-aged, and older) of their able-bodied counterparts. Specifically, via statistical methods, the research team will shed light on the barriers (e.g., mistrust or safety concerns) and the facilitators (e.g., intention to use or willingness) of each group in adopting the automated shuttle service.