The Influence of Feelings While Driving Regular Cars on the Perception and Acceptance of Self ‐Driving Cars

In this study (N = 1,484), we investigated how feelings related to traditional driving affect risk perception, benefit perception, and trust related to self ‐driving cars as well as people's acceptance of the technology. Due to limited experiences with and knowledge of self‐driving cars, we expected that feelings related to a similar experience, namely, driving regular cars, would influence judgments of self‐driving cars. Our results support this assumption. While positive feelings of enjoyment predicted higher benefit perception and trust, negative affect predicted higher risk and higher benefit perception of self‐driving cars. Feelings of control were inversely related to risk and benefit perception, which is in line with research on the affect heuristic. Furthermore, negative affect was an important source of information for judgments of use and acceptance. Interest in using a self‐driving car was also predicted by lower risk perception, higher benefit perception, and higher levels of trust in the technology. Although people's i ndividual experiences with advanced vehicle technologies and knowledge were associated with perceptions and acceptance, many simply have never been exposed to the technology and know little about it. In the absence of this experience or knowledge, all that is left is the knowledge, experience, and f eelings they have related to regular driving.

Source: Risk Analysis - February 7, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Raue, Lisa A. D'Ambrosio, Carley Ward, Chaiwoo Lee, Claire Jacquillat, Joseph F. Coughlin Tags: Original Research Article Source Type: research