Automated Vehicles Empowering Mobility of Vulnerable Groups - and the Pathway to Achieve This

Abstract

AbstractMany people in Europe still have limited access to transportation modes overall. Socio-economic constrains as well as cognitive, sensory and physical impairments affect everyday life of these citizens, posing challenges to access mobility services.Technologies for vehicle automation have advanced greatly in recent decades and it is expected to become part of vehicle fleets in the foreseeable future. Yet, the implementation and use of automated and autonomous vehicles (here jointly referred to as AVs) entails chances but also hurdles regarding accessibility and inclusivity of vulnerable groups. This concerns both the use of the vehicle by humans as well as the interaction between humans and vehicles as participants in road traffic.In this chapter, these aspects shall be presented by identifying opportunities and risks as part of our mobility system, starting from a narrowing down of the vulnerable social groups we are looking at. Subsequently, we present the benefits that co-creation and universal design can have in overcoming or, in the best case, avoiding these obstacles. Even though the authors are aware that no detailed recommendations for action can be given within this framework, at least suggestions for solutions are outlined.