How Automated Vehicles affects Social Equity

Automated vehicle technologies hold significant promise for benefiting vulnerable populations and bridging urban-rural disparities. Demographically, numerous studies highlight the potential of automated vehicles to improve mobility for people with disabilities, elderly individuals, and low-income populations by offering accessible and affordable transportation options [1], [2], [3], [4], [5].
Automated vehicles offer a game-changing solution for individuals with disabilities, including those with vision impairments [6], [7], [8], cognitive impairments [9], [10], [11], or limited mobility [12], [13], [14]. Equipped with advanced sensors and navigation systems, these vehicles could provide safe and reliable transportation for people with disabilities. They could incorporate user-friendly interfaces and assistive technologies, such as wheelchair ramps and voice-activated controls, to ensure accessibility and ease of use [15], [16], [17]. By removing physical barriers and offering personalized assistance, automated vehicles empower individuals with disabilities to travel independently and participate more fully in their communities.
Geographically, the deployment of automated vehicles has the potential to address “transportation deserts” in small urban, rural, or remote areas, providing residents with access to essential services and opportunities that were previously out of reach [18], [19], [20]. For rural areas, where transportation infrastructure may be lacking and population densities are lower, automated vehicles, like other shared ride services, could provide on-demand mobility options and connect residents to employment opportunities, healthcare services, and education centers [21]. Similarly, in small urban areas, where public transportation may be less extensive compared to larger cities, automated vehicles could serve as a flexible and efficient transportation solution, improving mobility and access to resources for residents.
However, the literature also emphasizes the need for careful planning and implementation to ensure that these technologies do not exacerbate existing inequalities. Concerns such as the digital divide [22], [23], [24], affordability [1], [25], [26], [27], and infrastructure limitations [28], [29], [30], [31] in rural and small urban areas must be addressed to ensure that the benefits of automation are equitably distributed across demographic and geographic lines. In addition, the literature emphasizes the importance of community engagement and inclusive planning processes to ensure that the deployment of automated vehicle technologies is responsive to the needs and priorities of diverse communities [18], [32], [33], [34].

References

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  8. P. D. S. Fink, J. A. Holz, and N. A. Giudice, “Fully Autonomous Vehicles for People with Visual Impairment: Policy, Accessibility, and Future Directions,” ACM Trans. Access. Comput., vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 1–17, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.1145/3471934.

  9. M. Eskandar et al., “Designing a Reminders System in Highly Automated Vehicles’ Interfaces for Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment,” Front. Future Transp., vol. 3, p. 854553, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.3389/ffutr.2022.854553.

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  12. H. Ikeda, M. Nakaseko, S. Minami, N. Yamaguchi, and K. Richards, “Examining aspects of automated driving by people with spinal cord injuries: Taking-over of steering in acute situations,” J. Glob. Tour. Res., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 135–140, 2019, doi: 10.37020/jgtr.4.2_135.

  13. K. D. Klinich, M. A. Manary, N. R. Orton, K. J. Boyle, and J. Hu, “A Literature Review of Wheelchair Transportation Safety Relevant to Automated Vehicles,” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health, vol. 19, no. 3, p. 1633, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031633.

  14. K. D. Klinich, N. R. Orton, M. A. Manary, E. McCurry, and T. Lanigan, “Independent Safety for Wheelchair Users in Automated Vehicles,” UMTRI, Technical Report, Apr. 2023. doi: 10.7302/7110.

  15. T. Leys, “People With Disabilities Hope Autonomous Vehicles Deliver Independence,” Disability Scoop, Jan. 03, 2024. Accessed: Aug. 09, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/01/03/people-with-disabilities-hope-autonomous-vehicles-deliver-independence/30680/

  16. “May Mobility advances AV accessibility, leads industry with development of first Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS with ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp,” Apr. 21, 2022. Accessed: Aug. 09, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://maymobility.com/posts/may-mobility-advances-av-accessibility-leads-industry-with-development-of-first-ada-compliant-toyota-sienna-autono-maas/

  17. K. Wiles, “How could future autonomous transportation be accessible to everyone?,” Purdue University, vol. The Persistent Pursuit, Mar. 30, 2023. Accessed: Aug. 09, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://stories.purdue.edu/how-could-future-autonomous-transportation-be-accessible-to-everyone/

  18. F. Douma and E. Petersen, “Scenarios and Justification for Automated Vehicle Demonstration in Rural Minnesota,” Jun. 2019, Accessed: May 15, 2024. [Online]. Available: http://hdl.handle.net/11299/203693

  19. J. Dowds, J. Sullivan, G. Rowangould, and L. Aultman-Hall, “Consideration of Automated Vehicle Benefits and Research Needs for Rural America,” Jul. 2021, doi: 10.7922/G2B27SKW.

  20. S. Ninan and S. Rathinam, “Technology to Ensure Equitable Access to Automated Vehicles for Rural Areas,” Aug. 2023, Accessed: May 15, 2024. [Online]. Available: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/116252

  21. S. Zieger and N. Niessen, “Opportunities and Challenges for the Demand-Responsive Transport Using Highly Automated and Autonomous Rail Units in Rural Areas,” in 2021 IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV), Nagoya, Japan: IEEE, Jul. 2021, pp. 77–82. doi: 10.1109/IV48863.2021.9575561.

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  23. E. Rovira, A. C. McLaughlin, R. Pak, and L. High, “Looking for Age Differences in Self-Driving Vehicles: Examining the Effects of Automation Reliability, Driving Risk, and Physical Impairment on Trust,” Front. Psychol., vol. 10, p. 800, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00800.

  24. S. M. Khan, M. S. Salek, V. Harris, G. Comert, E. A. Morris, and M. Chowdhury, “Autonomous Vehicles for All?,” ACM J. Auton. Transp. Syst., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1–8, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.1145/3611017.

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  32. S. Chng, P. Kong, P. Y. Lim, H. Cornet, and L. Cheah, “Engaging citizens in driverless mobility: Insights from a global dialogue for research, design and policy,” Transp. Res. Interdiscip. Perspect., vol. 11, p. 100443, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.trip.2021.100443.

  33. L. Kaplan et al., “Ensuring Strong Public Support for Automation in the Planning Process: From Engagement to Co-creation,” in Road Vehicle Automation 9, G. Meyer and S. Beiker, Eds., Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2023, pp. 167–183. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-11112-9_13.

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Related Literature Reviews

See Literature Reviews on Automated Vehicles

See Literature Reviews on Social Equity

Note: Mobility COE research partners conducted this literature review in Spring of 2024 based on research available at the time. Unless otherwise noted, this content has not been updated to reflect newer research.