Habitual or Reasoned? Explaining Drivers’ Switching Intentions Toward Autonomous Vehicles Through an Integrated Behavioral Framework

Despite the technological and safety benefits of autonomous vehicles (AVs), many drivers still prefer manual control. Previous studies largely focused on rational choices, ignoring the impact of deeply ingrained driving habits on behavioral change. To explain drivers’ intentions to migrate from manual to autonomous vehicles, this study developed an integrated paradigm combining the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Technology Acceptance Model, and Habit Theory. Survey data from 500 licensed drivers were analyzed using factor analyses and structural equation modeling. The results revealed that while attitude had the strongest positive influence on switching intention, driving habit exerted a significant negative impact, proving that AV adoption is shaped by automatic habitual processes alongside rational evaluations. Consequently, successfully transitioning toward automated mobility requires addressing this habitual resistance through user-centered interface design, targeted communication, and strategic policy interventions that support a psychologically and socially acceptable transition.