Insights from User Preferences on Automated Vehicles: Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on Value of Time in Romania Case

Abstract

New transport technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, are increasingly discussed in the debate on the transition to a sustainable urban future. Automated vehicles (AVs) are expected to reduce the value of travel time (VoT), allowing the use of time for other types of activities during travel, including working, reading, sleeping, entertainment, etc. Our study aims to provide empirical insights on future modal choice preferences for regular trips for Romanian citizens, using a sample of 309 respondents to a web survey on issues related to automated vehicles. Using multinomial logistic models (MNL), we analysed the relationship between three mode choices: regular car, private automated vehicle, and shared automated vehicle, along with the individual and household characteristics. In addition, we calculated the VoT for each mode choice based on the results of MNL analysis. Results showed that VoT is strongly influenced by travel cost and travel time, by socio-economic characteristics such as age, gender, and education, and has the lowest value for the shared AV compared with a regular car or a private AV. Future research may conduct comparable studies in European countries but also explore the opinions and perceptions of vulnerable road users on AVs and VoT.