A priori acceptance of highly automated cars in Australia, France, and Sweden: A theoretically-informed investigation guided by the TPB and UTAUT

• Published in: Accident analysis and prevention 2020-03, Vol.137 (137), p.105441-105441, Article 105441
• Main Authors: Kaye, Sherrie-Anne, Lewis, Ioni, Forward, Sonja, Delhomme, Patricia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A priori acceptance; Adult; Attitude; Australia; Automated vehicles; Automobile Driving - psychology; Automobile Driving - statistics & numerical data; Automobiles - classification; Female; France; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Intention; Male; Man-Machine Systems; Middle Aged; Psychological Theory; Psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden; Technology; Theory of planned behaviour; Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology
• ISSN: 0001-4575; 1879-2057; 1879-2057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2020.105441

•Applied TPB and UTAUT to assess a priori acceptance of highly automated cars.•The findings in relation to the TPB and UTAUT according to country (Australia, France, and Sweden).•Drivers residing in France reported greater intentions to use highly automated cars in the future.•More research is required to further assess the feasibility of the TPB and UTAUT to assess intentions to use AVs. To assess and explain finely drivers’ a priori acceptance of highly automated cars, this study used the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Further, the current study sought to extend upon previous research to assess if intentions to use highly automated cars in the future differed according to country (i.e., Australia, France, & Sweden). These three countries were selected to enable comparisons of a priori acceptance between countries of differing levels of exposure to highly automated cars. Participants (N = 1563; 62.1 % male) were recruited in Australia (n = 558), France (n = 625), and Sweden (n = 380) to complete a 20 min online questionnaire. The findings differed according to country of residence. Individuals residing in France reported significantly greater intentions to use highly automated cars when they become publicly available compared to individuals residing in Australia and in Sweden. Of the TPB constructs entered at step 1 in the hierarchical regression, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (capability and controllability) were significant predictors of intentions to use highly automated cars for participants residing in Australia and France. For participants residing in Sweden, only attitudes and PBC-capability were significant predictors of intentions. Of the UTAUT constructs entered at step 2, performance expectancy and effort expectancy were significant predictors of intentions for participants residing in France and only performance expectancy a significant predictor of intentions for participants residing in both Australia and Sweden. Age and gender did not add to the prediction of intentions when entered at step 3. However, pre-existing knowledge was a significant negative predictor of intentions when entered at step 3 for participants residing in Australia. Overall, the findings found some support for applying the TPB and UTAUT to assess intentions to use highly automated cars in different countries. The findings also highlight differences in a priori accepta