Influence of Demographic Factors on the Structure of Initial Trust in Autonomous Driving

Strategies to enhance drivers’ initial trust in Autonomous Driving before their first interactions are crucial. This study aimed to investigate the factors shaping the nature of initial trust. We conducted an online survey and examined the relationships between the structure of initial trust and several demographic factors. The results showed that, in general, drivers’ initial trust in Autonomous Driving contained faith and dependability, with dependability emerging as the most significant indicator. However, demographic factors influenced the structure of initial trust. Females, the elderly, unmarried and childless individuals, those with lower personal income, residents in regions outside the top metropolitan areas, or individuals only involved in part-time jobs tended to exhibit a stronger reliance on faith in establishing initial trust. These findings confirmed that targeted design and promotion for different populations with different demographic characteristics are necessary to improve drivers’ initial trust in Autonomous Driving.