Laura Martínez-Buelvas , Andry Rakotonirainy , Deanna Grant-Smith , Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios
{"title":"Safety and justice conflicts in the age of connected and automated vehicles: perceptions of pedestrians and car drivers","authors":"Laura Martínez-Buelvas , Andry Rakotonirainy , Deanna Grant-Smith , Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios","doi":"10.1016/j.trf.2025.103355","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are an emerging technology expected to improve safety, efficiency, and accessibility outcomes for all road users. However, comprehensive and multi-group analyses of the technology still need to be undertaken by the government, car manufacturers, and researchers, particularly around social aspects such as justice and safety value disparities. This study explores car drivers’ and pedestrians’ perceptions of safety and justice in the current transport system and how the deployment of CAVs might disrupt them. Interviews were conducted with 30 participants in Australia, a car-dependent country. The participants were 18 car drivers and 12 pedestrians aged between 18 and 79. Participants predominantly identified as either pedestrians or car drivers, though some occasionally used the other mode. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, organised, and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: (1) independence, (2) the transport system as a safety problem, and (3) the transport system as a justice problem. The analysis indicated that most participants preferred their current mode of transport due to perceived benefits and enjoyment. Car drivers often highlighted flexibility and independence, while pedestrians valued walkability and convenience. However, both groups expressed concerns about safety and justice in the current transport system, particularly regarding limited accessibility for people with disabilities and inadequate public transport. Finally, while both participants broadly supported the introduction of CAVs, many, especially pedestrians, expressed concerns about their potential to exacerbate existing disadvantages for vulnerable road users. This research finds that greater emphasis should be placed on increasing research on and planning for the impact of CAVs to ensure vulnerable groups’ concerns are addressed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48355,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part F-Traffic Psychology and Behaviour","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 103355"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Transportation Research Part F-Traffic Psychology and Behaviour","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847825003109","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are an emerging technology expected to improve safety, efficiency, and accessibility outcomes for all road users. However, comprehensive and multi-group analyses of the technology still need to be undertaken by the government, car manufacturers, and researchers, particularly around social aspects such as justice and safety value disparities. This study explores car drivers’ and pedestrians’ perceptions of safety and justice in the current transport system and how the deployment of CAVs might disrupt them. Interviews were conducted with 30 participants in Australia, a car-dependent country. The participants were 18 car drivers and 12 pedestrians aged between 18 and 79. Participants predominantly identified as either pedestrians or car drivers, though some occasionally used the other mode. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, organised, and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: (1) independence, (2) the transport system as a safety problem, and (3) the transport system as a justice problem. The analysis indicated that most participants preferred their current mode of transport due to perceived benefits and enjoyment. Car drivers often highlighted flexibility and independence, while pedestrians valued walkability and convenience. However, both groups expressed concerns about safety and justice in the current transport system, particularly regarding limited accessibility for people with disabilities and inadequate public transport. Finally, while both participants broadly supported the introduction of CAVs, many, especially pedestrians, expressed concerns about their potential to exacerbate existing disadvantages for vulnerable road users. This research finds that greater emphasis should be placed on increasing research on and planning for the impact of CAVs to ensure vulnerable groups’ concerns are addressed.
期刊介绍:
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour focuses on the behavioural and psychological aspects of traffic and transport. The aim of the journal is to enhance theory development, improve the quality of empirical studies and to stimulate the application of research findings in practice. TRF provides a focus and a means of communication for the considerable amount of research activities that are now being carried out in this field. The journal provides a forum for transportation researchers, psychologists, ergonomists, engineers and policy-makers with an interest in traffic and transport psychology.