Challenges of Implementing Fully Autonomous Trams in the City of Zagreb - From the Passenger Perspective

This paper explores the passenger perspective regarding implementing an fully autonomous tram system in the capital of the Republic of Croatia (further: Croatia). The research will utilize a survey questionnaire to capture the opinions of potential end-users/passengers of autonomous tram transport. The introduction of autonomous trams promises to enhance passenger experience and operational efficiency through the expansion and automation of infrastructure and vehicles, higher safety levels, and environmental sustainability. However, it also presents a range of technical, legal, and social challenges. Through analyzing passenger attitudes, key factors such as trust in system safety, trust in autonomous systems, acceptance of new technologies, and the impact on service efficiency and quality will be identified and analyzed. A primary prerequisite for the implementation of autonomous transport systems in Croatia is the alignment of the Road Transport Act (NN 114/22) and the Road Traffic Safety Act (NN 133/23) with the responsibilities of all stakeholders (e.g., software and hardware manufacturers, service providers, etc.). The paper particularly emphasizes the analysis of end-user opinions, the necessity of daily public education, and the adaptation of the legal framework. Additionally, it highlights the importance of testing autonomous technologies in real-world conditions to enable end-users to familiarize themselves with autonomous systems in everyday traffic, thereby facilitating the acceptance of upgrades in road transport.