Socio-technical Risks of Integrating Autonomous Transport into the Urban Environment: Institutional Challenges and Management Prospects

The article explores socio-technical risks and institutional challenges associated with the integration of unmanned transport into the urban environment. It presents the results of a pilot sociological study, comprising a series of 11 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Moscow city residents representing various demographic groups. The study reveals that public perception of autonomous transport in the urban environment is ambivalent and is determined by a combination of factors: from recognizing the potential benefits of automation (reducing the human factor, increasing traffic low predictability) to pronounced anxiety regarding technical failure, the inability of systems to respond to non-standard situations, and the uncertainty of legal liability in accidents involving other road users. It has been determined that the issue of safety remains the key barrier for all age groups, while the readiness to use the technology is characterized by a “conditional acceptance” model. Based on empirical data, practical recommendations have been developed for government authorities, transport operators, and developers to enhance the level of public trust in autonomous transport.