The assessment of drivers’ acceptance of automated vehicles in Italy: Development and initial validation of a short self-report measure

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to transform mobility. Exploring factors influencing driver’ acceptance of AVs has become crucial. We aimed at developing a short measure assessing: (a) positive dispositions towards technology (Technology Optimism Scale; TOS); (b) positive dispositions towards automated vehicles (Perception of Automated Vehicles; PAV); and (c) sustainable mobility attitudes (Sustainable Mobility Attitudes; SMA) in Italy. A sample of 730 Italian community-dwelling adult participants (mean age = 36.39 years; 61.1% female), was administered the TOS, PAV, and SMA items. Bivariate and multivariate item analyses were carried out; moreover, exploratory graph analysis was conducted to examine the structure of the measure. Internal consistency estimates of the TOS, PAV and SMA total scores were computed; associations between TOS, PAV, and SMA total scores, and demographic variables and personality traits, respectively, were assessed. The TOS, PAV, and SMA total scores were provided with adequate reliability and showed meaningful relationships with selected demographic variable and personality traits. Our findings may represent a useful contribution to the available literature on AVs providing researchers a short measure to assess different aspects contributing to the perception of AVs, at least among Italian community-dwelling participants.