Comparing autonomous vehicle acceptance of German residents with and without visual impairments

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2024 Feb 27:1-11. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2024.2317930. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTConnected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) will greatly impact the lives of individuals with visual impairments, but how they differ in expectations compared to sighted individuals is not clear. The present research reports results based on survey responses from 114 visually impaired participants and 117 panel recruited participants without visual impairments, from Germany. Their attitudes towards autonomous vehicles and their expectations for consequences of wide-spread adoption of CAVs are assessed. Results indicate significantly more positive CAV attitudes in participants with visual impairments compared to those without visual impairments. Mediation analyses indicate that visually impaired individuals' more positive CAV attitudes (compared to sighted individuals') are largely explained by higher hopes for independence, and more optimistic expectations regarding safety and sustainability. Policy makers should ensure accessibility without sacrificing goals for higher safety and lower ecological impact to make CAVs an acceptable inclusive mobility solution.PMID:38410937 | DOI:10.1080/17483107.2024.2317930
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology. - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Source Type: research