Safety and justice conflicts in the age of connected and automated vehicles: perceptions of pedestrians and car drivers

• Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) require an inclusive analysis of justice and safety disparities. • We analysed social disparities of CAV deployment for drivers and pedestrians. • Participants expressed challenges in the current transport system due to the system’s design. • Participants supported CAVs but emphasised potential harm to vulnerable road users. • Greater emphasis should be placed on the benefits of CAVs to society. Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are an emerging technology expected to improve safety, efficiency, and accessibility outcomes for all road users. However, comprehensive and multi-group analyses of the technology still need to be undertaken by the government, car manufacturers, and researchers, particularly around social aspects such as justice and safety value disparities. This study explores car drivers’ and pedestrians’ perceptions of safety and justice in the current transport system and how the deployment of CAVs might disrupt them. Interviews were conducted with 30 participants in Australia, a car-dependent country. The participants were 18 car drivers and 12 pedestrians aged between 18 and 79. Participants predominantly identified as either pedestrians or car drivers, though some occasionally used the other mode. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, organised, and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: (1) independence, (2) the transport system as a safety problem, and (3) the transport system as a justice problem. The analysis indicated that most participants preferred their current mode of transport due to perceived benefits and enjoyment. Car drivers often highlighted flexibility and independence, while pedestrians valued walkability and convenience. However, both groups expressed concerns about safety and justice in the current transport system, particularly regarding limited accessibility for people with disabilities and inadequate public transport. Finally, while both participants broadly supported the introduction of CAVs, many, especially pedestrians, expressed concerns about their potential to exacerbate existing disadvantages for vulnerable road users. This research finds that greater emphasis should be placed on increasing research on and planning for the impact of CAVs to ensure vulnerable groups’ concerns are addressed.