Age Differences in Acceptance of Self-driving Cars: A Survey of Perceptions and Attitudes

As self-driving cars begin to make their way on to the road, there is a growing need for research to understand acceptance of the technology among potential users. This study looked at responses from a national sample of 1,765 adults in the United States to uncover key determinants of the acceptance of self-driving cars and to understand how age and other characteristics relate to perceptions of and attitudes toward self-driving cars. Data from the online survey showed that perceived usefulness, affordability, social support, lifestyle fit and conceptual compatibility are key predictors of acceptance of self-driving cars across ages. A comparison across generational cohorts (i.e., Millennials, Generation X, Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation) found that age negatively affects perceptions of a self-driving car, interest in using it, and behavioral intentions to use one when it becomes available. Furthermore, experiential characteristics associated with age, including experiences with, knowledge of and trust toward technology in general, were found to have significant influence on how people felt about self-driving cars.