Public Perception Towards Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) in Indian Cities

Abstract

Traditional cities face numerous challenges, prompting a shift towards smart cities that leverage technology and innovation in the advancement of urban areas. Smart mobility, a key part of this transformation, includes Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). AVs are an emerging technology that hold the potential to revolutionize urban space management, improve transportation efficiency and provide safety, societal, and environmental benefits, ultimately transforming user attitudes towards transportation. Generally, people’s perceptions towards certain entities significantly shapes their inclination to adopt them. While the concept of AVs is promising, the immediate societal embrace of this technology remains uncertain. The aim of the thesis is to assess the feasibility of AVs in urban India through the lens of public perception. To achieve this aim, four objectives are outlined. These objectives are: To understand the concept of AVs and urban mobility in India, exploring their potential to enhance overall mobility outcomes; to identify suitable indicators and assess people’s perception on AVs; to analyse the relationship between categorical features & perception indicators of AVs, and to propose contextual modification in indicators to make the operation of AVs feasible in Indian cities. An online survey employing snowball sampling yielded 403 valid responses from 21 cities across India. The survey gathered qualitative data on demographic information, current travel behaviour, perceptions of AVs, and willingness to accept them. A comprehensive demographic analysis is conducted to examine how various factors, including age, gender, socioeconomic background (education and income), and level of urbanization, shape public perception of FAVs. There is notable diversity in the way different socio-demographic groups perceive and plan to adopt them. The dataset has been analysed descriptively, as well as using analytical methods such as correlation and SEM. The study also identifies the potential policy considerations which will translate into actionable insights for policymakers, informing the development of regulatory frameworks, infrastructure improvements, and targeted public awareness campaigns.