The pivotal role of social support in the adoption of fully automated vehicles by elderly individuals

Abstract

Emerging transportation solutions, such as fully autonomous vehicles, hold promise for enhanced mobility, especially for elderly individuals. However, the inclusivity of these solutions remains underexamined. We hypothesize that social support from family, friends, and the community can significantly reduce elderly individuals' perceived risks associated with fully automated vehicles, thereby encouraging their adoption. This study utilizes a tailored survey to assess elderly individuals' perceptions, acceptance, and valuation of fully automated vehicles while also considering elements such as environmental views and demographic characteristics. Drawing from the theory of planned behavior, we formulate a series of research hypotheses with a primary emphasis on social support. Using structural equation modeling, our results emphasize social support's pivotal role in adoption of fully automated vehicles by elderly individuals. Notably, while the direct impact of social support lessens with age, its indirect effect, namely, mitigating fully automated vehicles-related risk perceptions, remains influential. We further quantify the monetary value of such social support, ranging from 16,252 USD (ages over 70) to 39,345 USD (ages 60-64), which outpaces the value perceived by younger participants.