Safety Concerns and Public Acceptance

[raivo.sell][✓ raivo.sell, 2025-10-20]

The integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) into everyday traffic introduces both technological and societal challenges. While automated driving systems aim to eliminate human error and improve efficiency, the perceived safety and acceptance of these systems remain crucial for their widespread adoption. Ensuring that people *trust* the technology is equally important as ensuring that the technology *functions safely*.

Safety in autonomous mobility can be divided into two interdependent aspects:

• Technical Safety – the reliability of sensors, algorithms, and mechanical systems that guarantee correct perception, planning, and control under varying traffic conditions.
• Perceived Safety – the degree to which passengers and other road users feel safe when interacting with or observing an autonomous vehicle.

Even if an AV operates flawlessly according to standards and regulations, users may still hesitate to use it unless the system communicates its actions clearly and behaves predictably. Thus, *trust* emerges as a measurable component of safety.

Public acceptance is closely linked to how transparently the system communicates its intentions and limitations. People expect autonomous vehicles to behave in a consistent and understandable manner — signalling when yielding, stopping, or resuming motion. Clear visual or auditory cues from the vehicle’s human–machine interface (HMI) can substantially increase user confidence.

Equally important is transparent communication from operators and authorities regarding how safety is managed, what happens in case of system failures, and how data is used. Misinformation or uncertainty during incidents may quickly erode public trust even if no technical fault has occurred.

Empirical research has shown that direct experience with AVs strongly increases trust. In one Estonian field study (Kalda, Sell & Soe, 2021), the majority of first-time users reported a high sense of safety and comfort, with over 90% indicating willingness to use autonomous shuttles again after their initial ride.

Such results confirm that personal experience and well-managed demonstrations are key factors in shaping public perception. People who interact directly with autonomous vehicles tend to transition from curiosity to trust, whereas those without exposure often remain cautious or skeptical. This highlights the importance of continuous testing, education, and public engagement.

Public acceptance extends beyond safety alone. It also encompasses questions of responsibility, fairness, accessibility, and societal impact. Autonomous transport must be inclusive and understandable to all citizens — regardless of age, digital literacy, or physical ability.

Ethical transparency, clear rules of accountability, and human-centered interface design all contribute to societal readiness for automation. Collaboration between engineers, psychologists, communication experts, and policy-makers is therefore essential to define a holistic framework of *social safety*.

Ensuring public confidence in autonomous mobility requires a balanced approach:

• Continuous safety validation through simulation, testing, and monitoring.
• Transparent governance and open communication with the public.
• Education and awareness activities that explain system limits and benefits.
• Ethical and inclusive design principles ensuring accessibility and fairness.

When these dimensions align, public acceptance evolves naturally, transforming initial curiosity and caution into trust and habitual use. The success of future autonomous mobility therefore depends not only on technological excellence but also on how well society understands and embraces it.

Reference: Kalda, K.; Sell, R.; Soe, R.-M. (2021). *Use Case of Autonomous Vehicle Shuttle and Passenger Acceptance.* Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, 70(4), 429–435. [https://doi.org/10.3176/proc.2021.4.09](https://doi.org/10.3176/proc.2021.4.09)