Skip to main content
Article
Does Length of Ride, Gender or Nationality Affect Willingness to Ride in a Driverless Ambulance?
Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems (2018)
  • Stephen Rice, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Scott R. Winter, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Rian Mehta, Florida Institute of Technology
  • Joseph R. Keebler, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Bradley S. Baugh, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Emily C. Anania, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Mattie N. Milner, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University
Abstract
Due to the frequent lack of ambulances and personnel, the purpose of this study was to examine consumers’ willingness-to-ride in an ambulance that was either driven by a human driver or completely automated (with no human driver) based on the gender of the participant and their nationality, either Indian or American. A two-study experimental design was utilized using over 1,000 participants. In Study 1, the length of the ride and the type of driver were manipulated while in Study 2, the length of the ride was manipulated across genders and nationality. Study 2 also collected affect measures to complete a mediation analysis. The findings indicate that consumers’ willingness-to-ride was significantly lower for longer rides when using the automated ambulance. There were significant interactions between nationality and gender and nationality, gender, and length of the ride. Affect was found to significantly mediate the relationship between willingness-to-ride and both nationality and gender. These
findings are discussed in greater detail, along with recommendations for future research and limitations to the study. 
Keywords
  • driverless vehicles,
  • emergency medical services,
  • willingness to ride,
  • affect,
  • mediation
Disciplines
Publication Date
October 25, 2018
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1139/juvs-2017-0027
Citation Information
Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter, Rian Mehta, Joseph R. Keebler, et al.. "Does Length of Ride, Gender or Nationality Affect Willingness to Ride in a Driverless Ambulance?" Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems (2018) ISSN: 2291-3467
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/scott_winter/30/