Analyse the moral dilemma facing autonomous vehicles with mixed logit model

Abstract

The transportation industry has undergone remarkable transformations, driven by the rapid advancements in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. Level 5 AVs, at the forefront of vehicle automation, completely eradicate the necessity for drivers’ intervention. While there have been remarkable advancements in AV technology, concerns regarding traffic safety and moral dilemmas when Level 5 AVs are involved in collisions have emerged. The objective of this study is to investigate the moral choice behaviour of prospective AV users when they are faced with moral dilemma situations involving Level 5 AVs, where a mixed logit model is formulated based on the stated preference survey in the context of Singapore. The results demonstrate the significant impacts of the affected parties’ gender, age, social importance, law-abidance and nationality on the moral choice behaviour of decision makers in AV moral dilemma. This study could provide policy implications for government planners and AV manufacturers in devising the decision-making model for Level 5 AVs when confronted with moral dilemmas. The insights could also be beneficial for the customers, enabling them to enhance road safety when using AVs.