Files and links (1)
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Potential effects of autonomous vehicles on transport mode choice and sedentary behaviour in an Australian context – a modelling study
Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Vol.32, pp.1-10
2025
Abstract
Background
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are hailed as having the potential to improve road safety. However, they may also encourage engagement in more sedentary transport. This modeling paper aims to explore how the uptake of AVs may lead to increased sedentary behaviour and to explore potential policy interventions.
Methods
An Agent-Based Model was developed using survey responses and domain expertise to simulate humans’ transport mode choices. 250 ‘human’ agents were distributed into an imagined future environment containing AVs. Agents’ decision-making was based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Effects on mode choice and sedentary behaviour associated with transport modal choice were observed. Six policy scenarios related to the introduction of AVs were then explored, including policies designed to both incentivise and disincentivise AV use.
Results
Baseline results showed rapid adoption of autonomous transport mode choice across both private AVs and autonomous ‘ride hail’ options, driven by decreasing costs of AVs and increasing acceptance of AV technology over time. Changes in agents’ transport behaviours coincided with a decrease in active transport trips and increase in sedentary transport behaviour. Additional fees for ride-hail AV trips disincentivised their use. Up-front financial discounts for the purchase of AVs increased adoption more than post-purchase rebates.
Conclusion
Increases in autonomous transport are expected to be accompanied by greater sedentary transport behaviour. Financial incentives to restrict AV adoption may be effective in mitigating adverse consequences. The model framework provides a flexible platform upon which to test a variety of future policy transport and technology adoption scenarios.
Details
- Title
- Potential effects of autonomous vehicles on transport mode choice and sedentary behaviour in an Australian context – a modelling study
- Authors
- Branislava Godic (Corresponding Author) - The University of MelbourneRajith Vidanaarachchi - The University of MelbourneLeon Booth - The George Institute for Global HealthSimone Pettigrew - The George Institute for Global HealthVictoria Farrar - The George Institute for Global HealthJason Thompson - The University of Melbourne
- Publication details
- Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Vol.32, pp.1-10
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.trip.2025.101540
- ISSN
- 2590-1982
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
- Data Availability
- Data will be made available on request.
- Grants
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991184185002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
3 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Transportation
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites