Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions

The decision-making systems in highly automated vehicles use artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to replicate human-like behaviour in driving. However, when studying the acceptance of such vehicles, analysing the human factor is essential if their deployment is to be a success. This paper presen...

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Authors: Pérez Moreno, Elisa María; Naranjo, José Eugenio; Hernández Lloreda, María José; Ruiz Gallego-Largo, Trinidad; Valle, Alfredo; Cruz, Alberto; Serradilla, Francisco; Jiménez, Felipe
Format: Article
Publication date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repository:Docta Complutense
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/129918
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/129918
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Automated vehicles
Perceived risk
Users acceptance
Pupil dilation
Safety
Unexpected hazards
Psicología experimental
6106 Psicología Experimental
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author Pérez Moreno, Elisa María
author2 Naranjo, José Eugenio
Hernández Lloreda, María José
Ruiz Gallego-Largo, Trinidad
Valle, Alfredo
Cruz, Alberto
Serradilla, Francisco
Jiménez, Felipe
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author_browse Cruz, Alberto
Hernández Lloreda, María José
Jiménez, Felipe
Naranjo, José Eugenio
Pérez Moreno, Elisa María
Ruiz Gallego-Largo, Trinidad
Serradilla, Francisco
Valle, Alfredo
author_facet Pérez Moreno, Elisa María
Naranjo, José Eugenio
Hernández Lloreda, María José
Ruiz Gallego-Largo, Trinidad
Valle, Alfredo
Cruz, Alberto
Serradilla, Francisco
Jiménez, Felipe
author_role author
collection Docta Complutense
description The decision-making systems in highly automated vehicles use artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to replicate human-like behaviour in driving. However, when studying the acceptance of such vehicles, analysing the human factor is essential if their deployment is to be a success. This paper presents an analysis, based on real driving conditions, of perceived risk and occupant acceptance of an SAE level 4 automated vehicle (where the user adopts only the role of a passenger) in two unforeseen situations involving risk, one in which the life of a pedestrian may be endangered and the other in which the life of the user himself may be endangered. To assess perceived risk, pupil diameter, a physiological variable closely related to emotional arousal, was measured. The study involved 40 participants. The study revealed that perceived risk is significantly higher when the user's personal safety is compromised, reinforcing the principle of prioritising passenger safety in autonomous vehicle design. Key findings include an inverse correlation between perceived risk and driving experience, and no evidence suggesting that prior automated vehicle experience modifies future usage expectations. The research emphasises the critical role of human-centered design in AI-driven decision-making systems, highlighting the importance of understanding psychological and physiological responses to autonomous technology.
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institution Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
instname_str Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
language eng
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
oai_identifier_str oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/129918
publishDate 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher Taylor & Francis
publisherStr Taylor & Francis
reponame_str Docta Complutense
spelling Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions Pérez Moreno, Elisa María Naranjo, José Eugenio Hernández Lloreda, María José Ruiz Gallego-Largo, Trinidad Valle, Alfredo Cruz, Alberto Serradilla, Francisco Jiménez, Felipe Automated vehicles Perceived risk Users acceptance Pupil dilation Safety Unexpected hazards Psicología experimental 6106 Psicología Experimental The decision-making systems in highly automated vehicles use artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to replicate human-like behaviour in driving. However, when studying the acceptance of such vehicles, analysing the human factor is essential if their deployment is to be a success. This paper presents an analysis, based on real driving conditions, of perceived risk and occupant acceptance of an SAE level 4 automated vehicle (where the user adopts only the role of a passenger) in two unforeseen situations involving risk, one in which the life of a pedestrian may be endangered and the other in which the life of the user himself may be endangered. To assess perceived risk, pupil diameter, a physiological variable closely related to emotional arousal, was measured. The study involved 40 participants. The study revealed that perceived risk is significantly higher when the user's personal safety is compromised, reinforcing the principle of prioritising passenger safety in autonomous vehicle design. Key findings include an inverse correlation between perceived risk and driving experience, and no evidence suggesting that prior automated vehicle experience modifies future usage expectations. The research emphasises the critical role of human-centered design in AI-driven decision-making systems, highlighting the importance of understanding psychological and physiological responses to autonomous technology. Taylor & Francis https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/129918
spellingShingle Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions
Pérez Moreno, Elisa María
Automated vehicles
Perceived risk
Users acceptance
Pupil dilation
Safety
Unexpected hazards
Psicología experimental
6106 Psicología Experimental
title Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions
title_full Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions
title_fullStr Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions
title_full_unstemmed Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions
title_short Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions
title_sort Perceived risk and acceptance of automated vehicles users to unexpected hazard situations in real driving conditions
topic Automated vehicles
Perceived risk
Users acceptance
Pupil dilation
Safety
Unexpected hazards
Psicología experimental
6106 Psicología Experimental
topic_facet Automated vehicles
Perceived risk
Users acceptance
Pupil dilation
Safety
Unexpected hazards
Psicología experimental
6106 Psicología Experimental
url https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/129918