ABSTRACT. The purpose of this study was to empirically examine whether autonomous vehicles pose a significant regulatory problem. Building my argument by drawing on data collected from AUVSI, Capgemini Research Institute, Ipsos, J.D. Power, Perkins Coie, and Pew Research Center, I performed analyses and made estimates regarding generational gap in technologies that assume control of vehicle operating functions (%), U.S. adults who say they would feel very/somewhat/not too/not at all safe sharing the road with driverless passenger vehicles/driverless freight trucks (%), U.S. adults who say they would want to ride in a driverless car if given the opportunity (%), and top reasons which will help in saving time with self-driving vehicles (%). Empirical data for this study were collected through an online survey conducted in the United States. The structural equation modeling technique was employed to test the research model.

Keywords: self-driving; autonomous vehicle; regulation; motor vehicle law; traffic

How to cite: Popescu Ljungholm, Doina (2019). “Governing Self-Driving Cars: Do Autonomous Vehicles Pose a Significant Regulatory Problem?,” Review of Contemporary Philosophy 18: 119–125. doi:10.22381/RCP1820195

Received 19 December 2018 • Received in revised form 14 May 2019
Accepted 18 May 2019 • Available online 28 May 2019