Anciaes, Paulo; Chaniotakis, Emmanouil; (2025) Will autonomous vehicles reduce road travel stress? Presented at: UCL Health of the Public Annual Symposium 2025, London, UK.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: Car drivers often feel stressed because of delays, finding parking spaces, and conflicts with other drivers. Bus passengers feel stressed because of delays, overcrowding, and fear of crime. Will this change in the future, when cars and buses no longer need drivers? METHOD: We triangulated results of several activities done in an 8-country European project. 30 citizens and 20 representatives of organisations experienced real autonomous buses. 92 citizens experienced autonomous cars and buses in virtual reality. 8000 participants answered an online survey. 11 organisations were interviewed. RESULTS: • Experience of real autonomous vehicles: Participants felt safe and in control. Citizens were more likely to say that human-driven vehicles will be more stressful than autonomous ones. Organisations were more likely to say the opposite. • Virtual reality: Electroencephalogram data suggested stress increased when the virtual car was stuck in congestion and when some virtual bus passengers had annoying behaviour. In questionnaires, participants were split on whether autonomous vehicles will be more or less stressful, but in group discussions many concerned about stress if buses do not have a driver to intervene in case of safety or personal security issues. • Online survey: Participants were split on which vehicles will be more stressful and on whether congestion and parking needs will increase or decrease. But on average they thought that other stressful situations, such as traffic violations and harassment, will decrease. • Interviews: Bus companies believed that services will be more reliable, decreasing stress of passengers travelling or waiting at bus stops. There will also be more bus services, reducing stress of not having transport when needed. CONCLUSIONS/IMPACT: Autonomous vehicles may reduce some stressful situations but create new ones. There is still time for policy-makers and vehicle developers to address the issues that will cause more stress.

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