Cross-country differences in willingness to use conditionally automated driving systems: Impact of technology affinity, driving skills, and perceived traffic climate

The importance of public acceptance of automated driving systems (ADS) has grown as these systems have advanced. Previous research has acknowledged the existence of individual and cross-cultural differences in drivers’ willingness to use these systems. This study aimed to further investigate cross-country differences in willingness to use conditionally automated driving systems, and the factors that influence it, such as technology affinity, driving skills, and traffic climate, across eight countries with varying road safety profiles. A large-scale survey was conducted as part of the Hi-Drive project, involving 7896 participants from eight countries (UK, USA, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Greece, China, and Japan). The findings revealed significant cross-country differences in willingness to use ADS, with China having the highest and the United Kingdom having the lowest scores. A mixed-effects model showed that willingness to use ADS was positively associated with technology affinity, driving skills, and external affective demands, and functionality dimensions of Traffic Climate Scale, and negatively associated with internal requirements factor of traffic climate. The results indicate that technology affinity plays a crucial role in influencing willingness to use ADS across countries, while perceptions of driving skills and traffic climate may provide insights into some country and individual-level differences in acceptance of these systems. These findings contribute to our understanding of the acceptance of ADS and the role of individual differences and transport-specific factors.