Who is to blame for crashes involving autonomous vehicles? Exploring blame attribution across the road transport system

Elin Pollanen; Gemma J M Read; Ben R Lane; Jason Thompson; Paul M Salmon

doi:10.1080/00140139.2020.1744064

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Who is to blame for crashes involving autonomous vehicles? Exploring blame attribution across the road transport system

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Who is to blame for crashes involving autonomous vehicles? Exploring blame attribution across the road transport system

Elin Pollanen, Gemma J M Read, Ben R Lane, Jason Thompson and Paul M Salmon

Ergonomics, Vol.63(5), pp.525-537

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2020.1744064

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Abstract

road crashes

autonomous vehicles

blame attribution

liability

self-driving cars

The introduction of fully autonomous vehicles is approaching. This warrants a re-consideration of road crash liability, given drivers will have diminished control. This study, underpinned by attribution theory, investigated blame attribution to different road transport system actors following crashes involving manually driven, semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles. It also examined whether outcome severity alters blame ratings. 396 participants attributed blame to five actors (vehicle driver/user, pedestrian, vehicle, manufacturer, government) in vehicle-pedestrian crash scenarios. Different and unique patterns of blame were found across actors, according to the three vehicle types. In crashes involving fully autonomous vehicles, vehicle users received low blame, while vehicle manufacturers and government were highly blamed. There was no difference in the level of blame attributed between high and low severity crashes in regard to vehicle type. However, the government received more blame in high severity crashes. The findings have implications for policy and legislation surrounding crash liability.

Details

Title: Who is to blame for crashes involving autonomous vehicles? Exploring blame attribution across the road transport system
Authors: Elin Pollanen (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Social Sciences
Gemma J M Read (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Ben R Lane (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Jason Thompson (Author) - University of Melbourne
Paul M Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Ergonomics, Vol.63(5), pp.525-537
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2020.1744064
ISSN: 0014-0139
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Psychology; School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451329602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Industrial; Ergonomics; Psychology; Psychology, Applied

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