Prioritize Reliability and Safety in Design to Foster Situation Trust and Encourage Automated Taxi User Adoption.
German Survey Study Found Situational Technical Trust as the Most Influential on Risk Taking Behavior.
Germany
Trust towards using autonomous taxis: Evidence from Germany
Summary Information
Public acceptance of automated vehicles, including automated taxis (ATs), remains a significant hurdle to their integration into the transportation network. This study investigated the multiple dimensions of trust concerning ATs across social, data, and technical levels: dispositional trust (inherent inclination), situational trust (context dependent), and learned trust (evolves based on experience). The study analyzed online questionnaire responses completed by 205 individuals in Germany. Although sample size was limited, researchers suggested that trust was associated with greater intended willingness to engage with autonomous taxis under uncertain conditions.
The study noted the following practical implications and lessons learned:
- Prioritize reliability and safety in design to foster situation trust. This could include rigorous testing and transparent communication of safety protocols and records.
- Further strengthen situational trust through communication, user engagement, and transparency. For example, provide convenient feedback mechanisms for passengers during or after rides, such as in-vehicle touchscreens or mobile apps. Implement a transparent data policy and allow users to control their data-sharing preferences.
- Involve users in the development and refinement of AT services to cultivate learned trust over time.
- Collaborate with reputable organizations (e.g., transportation authorities or car manufacturers) to enhance dispositional trust by association.
- Adopt differentiated strategies for users based on their risk propensity. Risk-tolerant individuals often serve as trendsetters for the broader population when it comes to technological innovations.
- Account for culture (e.g., uncertainty avoidance). Germans tend to be cautious with respect to new technologies, and thus may require more trust building compared to those in countries such as the US.
