1375220 - Do First Responders Trust Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs)? A National Survey

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) leverage emerging vehicle connectivity and automation technologies to enhance traffic safety. Extensive research has been done to examine the safety impacts of CAVs on road users (including vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users). Still, the impacts on people who manage roads are under-discussed. These people include first responders who respond to traffic incidents and assist road users. Enormous efforts from manufacturers and governments are being deployed to improve the safety of CAVs. Road users show growing interest in CAVs, but it is uncertain whether first responders would feel the same way. First responders risk being hit by passing vehicles when they perform their duties on or along a road. In addition, it is unknown whether CAVs can or will do a better job than human drivers in conventional vehicles. This study conducted a national survey among first responders in the USS to understand their knowledge and incident management experiences related to CAVs, as well as their attributes and concerns towards CAV technologies, including advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), connected vehicle (CV) and self-driving or autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies. Over 1,000 first responders participated in the survey, and the survey had representation from all 50 states, Washington DC, and US Territories. The survey results showed that over 80% of first responders have not received any CAV-related safety training, and 40% of first responders self-reported having little knowledge about CAVs. Regarding the roles of AVs in emergency responses, only a tiny portion (3%) of first responders would trust AVs more than human drivers passing an incident scene, and the majority (85%) of first responders do not think AVs will outperform human drivers. Only 1% of first responders said they trust AVs, and over 40% stated that they do not trust AVs at all. A statistical model was developed to identify the correlates of first responders’ trust in AVs. Modeling results showed that education positively correlates to the odds of trusting AVs. This study found significant differences in perceptions towards CAVs across emergency response agencies and geographic regions. Law enforcement offers are associated with a greater odd of trusting AVs more than human drivers compared to firefighters; responders from DOT or public works are associated with the lowest odds among all emergency response agencies. FEMA Region 3 (e.g., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia) has the lowest odds of trusting AVs more than human drivers in the country. This study provides valuable information for stakeholders to prepare responders for next-generation transportation emergency responses.