Assessing Sustainable Autonomous Transportation: Veterans’ Perceptions Prior and After Autonomous Shuttle Exposure

The Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts, including the Veterans Transportation Program and the CHOICE and MISSION Acts, aim to improve healthcare access for Veterans, yet transportation barriers persist. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and Autonomous Ride-Sharing Services represent a potential sustainable, energy-efficient solution, promoting both environmental responsibility and social equity. However, limited research exists on Veterans' perceptions of these technologies. Leveraging data from the Autonomous Vehicle User Perception Survey (AVUPS), this study assessed Veterans' perceptions of autonomous shuttles (AS) before and after exposure among 77 participants in four Florida cities. Results indicated significant increases in Intention to Use and Total Acceptance and a decrease in Perceived Barriers, with no change in Well-being. Urban Veterans showed improvements across multiple subscales, while rural Veterans only showed reduced Perceived Barriers. Those with initially low Total Acceptance scores demonstrated greater improvements, particularly in Intention to Use and Perceived Barriers. Analysis of individual survey items showed increased trust, greater willingness to multitask, improved safety perceptions, and reduced concerns about declining driving abilities and hesitations toward AVs, with the latter three items remaining significant after correction. Overall, AS exposure positively influenced Veterans’ perceptions, and point to the potential for considering AS as a sustainable transportation option for Veterans.