The Role of Autonomous Vehicles in Urban Mobility Solutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/jts.2142Keywords:
Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), Urban Mobility, Traffic Flow and Congestion, Environmental Sustainability, Socioeconomic Benefits and Workforce TransitionAbstract
Purpose: The general objective of the study was to investigate the role of autonomous vehicles in urban mobility solutions.
Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of autonomous vehicles in urban mobility solutions. Preliminary empirical review revealed that autonomous vehicles (AVs) had the potential to significantly enhance urban mobility by improving traffic flow, reducing congestion, and increasing road safety. AVs could also contribute to environmental sustainability by lowering emissions and fuel consumption, particularly with electric and hybrid models. The research emphasized the socioeconomic benefits, such as increased mobility for underserved populations and new economic opportunities, while acknowledging the challenges in technology, regulation, public acceptance, and infrastructure that needed to be addressed for successful implementation.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Technology Acceptance Model (ATM) and Actor- Network Theory (ANT) may be used to anchor future studies on the role of autonomous vehicles in urban mobility solutions. The study recommended a multifaceted approach to fully realize the potential of AVs in urban mobility, including continued investment in AV research and development, the establishment of comprehensive regulatory frameworks, and the adaptation of urban infrastructure. It suggested smart infrastructure integration and public engagement initiatives to build trust and acceptance. The study also highlighted the importance of workforce transition strategies to mitigate the economic impact on traditional driving roles, advocating for retraining programs and collaboration between governments and industry stakeholders to support displaced workers and ensure broad economic benefits.
Downloads
References
American Public Transportation Association. (2017). Public transportation’s role in autonomous vehicle deployment. Retrieved from https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/Resources/resources/reportsandpublications/Documents/APTA-Autonomous-Vehicle-Deployment.pdf
Anderson, J. M., Nidhi, K., Stanley, K. D., Sorensen, P., Samaras, C., & Oluwatola, O. A. (2014). Autonomous vehicle technology: A guide for policymakers. Rand Corporation. https://doi.org/10.7249/RR443-2
Bansal, P., & Kockelman, K. M. (2017). Forecasting Americans’ long-term adoption of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 95, 49-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2016.10.013
Bonnefon, J. F., Shariff, A., & Rahwan, I. (2016). The social dilemma of autonomous vehicles. Science, 352(6293), 1573-1576. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf2654
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319-340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
Fagnant, D. J., & Kockelman, K. (2015). Preparing a nation for autonomous vehicles: Opportunities, barriers, and policy recommendations. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 77, 167-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2015.04.003
Greenblatt, J. B., & Saxena, S. (2015). Autonomous taxis could greatly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions of US light-duty vehicles. Nature Climate Change, 5(9), 860-863. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2685
Harper, C. D., Hendrickson, C. T., Mangones, S., & Samaras, C. (2016). Estimating potential increases in travel with autonomous vehicles for the non-driving, elderly and people with travel-restrictive medical conditions. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 72, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2016.09.003
Hidalgo, D., & Gutiérrez, L. (2013). BRT and BHLS around the world: Explosive growth, large positive impacts and many issues outstanding. Research in Transportation Economics, 39(1), 8-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2012.05.018
Hulse, L. M., Xie, H., & Galea, E. R. (2018). Perceptions of autonomous vehicles: Relationships with road users, risk, gender and age. Safety Science, 102, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.10.001
Kawashima, M. (2018). Autonomous buses in Japan: Addressing transportation challenges in rural areas. Transportation Research Record, 2672(8), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118798004
Kim, K., Rousseau, G., Freedman, J., & Lee, J. (2015). Economic impacts of automated vehicles. International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology, 4(1), 77-89. https://doi.org/10.1260/2046-0430.4.1.77
KPMG. (2019). Autonomous vehicles readiness index 2019. Retrieved from https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2019/02/2019-autonomous-vehicles-readiness-index.html
Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford University Press.
Leape, J. (2006). The London congestion charge. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20(4), 157-176. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.20.4.157
Litman, T. (2020). Autonomous vehicle implementation predictions: Implications for transport planning. Victoria Transport Policy Institute. Retrieved from https://www.vtpi.org/avip.pdf
Milakis, D., Snelder, M., van Arem, B., van Wee, B., & Correia, G. (2017). Development of automated vehicles in the Netherlands: Scenarios for 2030 and 2050. European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research, 17(1), 63-85. https://doi.org/10.18757/ejtir.2017.17.1.3180
Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority. (2018). Nairobi transport sector overview. Retrieved from https://www.namata.go.ke/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2015). Critical reasons for crashes investigated in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey. Retrieved from https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812115
Omwenga, M. (2013). Nairobi’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system: A sustainable public transport solution for developing countries. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 15(2), 89-104. Retrieved from http://www.jsdafrica.com/Jsda/Vol15No2-Spring2013A/PDF/Nairobi'sBusRapidTransit(MosesOmwenga).pdf
Petit, J., & Shladover, S. E. (2015). Potential cyberattacks on automated vehicles. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 16(2), 546-556. https://doi.org/10.1109/TITS.2014.2342271
Prefeitura de São Paulo. (2020). Ciclovias em São Paulo: Uma revolução cicloviária. Retrieved from http://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/cidade/secretarias/transportes/
Rayle, L., Dai, D., Chan, N., Cervero, R., & Shaheen, S. (2016). Just a better taxi? A survey-based comparison of taxis, transit, and ride-hailing services in San Francisco. Transport Policy, 45, 168-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2015.10.004
Rodrigues da Silva, A. N., Carvalho, C. H. R., & de Lima, M. S. (2018). Autonomous vehicles and urban mobility: Brazilian perspectives. Transport Reviews, 38(5), 568-584. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2017.1365102
Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). Free Press.
Rwabizambuga, A. (2019). Rwanda to pilot test autonomous shuttles. IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved from https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/transportation/self-driving/rwanda-to-pilot-test-autonomous-shuttles
Smith, A. (2015). Comprehensive urban mobility strategies in New York City. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 141(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000256
Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. (2020). Annual report 2020. Retrieved from https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/corporate/enterprise/annual_report/annual_report_2020/
Transport for London. (2019). Autonomous urban mobility: Project overview. Retrieved from https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2019/january/autonomous-urban-mobility
Waymo. (2020). Waymo safety report: On the road to fully self-driving. Retrieved from https://waymo.com/safety/
World Health Organization. (2018). Global status report on road safety 2018. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565684
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Gilbert Kosgey
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
