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Automated Mobility Transitions: Governing Processes in the UK

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  • Debbie Hopkins

    (Transport Studies Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • Tim Schwanen

    (Transport Studies Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

Abstract

Contemporary systems of mobility are undergoing a transition towards automation. In the UK, this transition is being led by (often new) partnerships between incumbent manufacturers and new entrants, in collaboration with national governments, local/regional councils, and research institutions. This paper first offers a framework for analyzing the governance of the transition, adapting ideas from the Transition Management (TM) perspective, and then applies the framework to ongoing automated vehicle transition dynamics in the UK. The empirical analysis suggests that the UK has adopted a reasonably comprehensive approach to the governing of automated vehicle innovation but that this approach cannot be characterized as sufficiently inclusive, democratic, diverse and open. The lack of inclusivity, democracy, diversity and openness is symptomatic of the post-political character of how the UK’s automated mobility transition is being governed. The paper ends with a call for a reconfiguration of the automated vehicle transition in the UK and beyond, so that much more space is created for dissent and for reflexive and comprehensive big picture thinking on (automated) mobility futures.

Suggested Citation

  • Debbie Hopkins & Tim Schwanen, 2018. "Automated Mobility Transitions: Governing Processes in the UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:956-:d:138044
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Cohen, Scott & Stienmetz, Jason & Hanna, Paul & Humbracht, Michael & Hopkins, Debbie, 2020. "Shadowcasting tourism knowledge through media: Self-driving sex cars?," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    8. Cohen, Scott A. & Hopkins, Debbie, 2019. "Autonomous vehicles and the future of urban tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 33-42.
    9. Smith, Angela & Dickinson, Janet E. & Marsden, Greg & Cherrett, Tom & Oakey, Andrew & Grote, Matt, 2022. "Public acceptance of the use of drones for logistics: The state of play and moving towards more informed debate," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
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    12. Chris Tennant & Susan Howard & Sally Stares, 2021. "Building the UK vision of a driverless future: A Parliamentary Inquiry case study," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, December.
    13. Olin, Janne J. & Mladenović, Miloš N., 2024. "Unpacking the cultural aspects of transport automation governance in Finland: An interview study," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    14. Kassens-Noor, Eva & Dake, Dana & Decaminada, Travis & Kotval-K, Zeenat & Qu, Teresa & Wilson, Mark & Pentland, Brian, 2020. "Sociomobility of the 21st century: Autonomous vehicles, planning, and the future city," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 329-335.
    15. Bahamonde-Birke, Francisco J. & Frowijn, Luuk & van Gils, Coco & Helmink, Rutger D.W. & Henkus, Sophie & van der Hoeven, Sanna & Mathilde Kolkman, O. & van Onzen, Tim & Ronteltap, Lisette & Wehl, Dina, 2023. "Am I willing to replace my car with a MaaS subscription? An analysis of the willingness of Dutch citizens to adopt MaaS and the triggers affecting their choices," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    16. Sandra Melo & Flavia Silva & Mohammad Abbasi & Parisa Ahani & Joaquim Macedo, 2023. "Public Acceptance of the Use of Drones in City Logistics: A Citizen-Centric Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-9, February.
    17. Nemoto, Eliane Horschutz & Korbee, Dorien & Jaroudi, Ines & Viere, Tobias & Naderer, Gabriele & Fournier, Guy, 2023. "Integrating automated minibuses into mobility systems – Socio-technical transitions analysis and multi-level perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    18. Bård Torvetjønn Haugland, 2020. "Changing oil: self-driving vehicles and the Norwegian state," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, December.
    19. Roberto Battistini & Luca Mantecchini & Maria Nadia Postorino, 2020. "Users’ Acceptance of Connected and Automated Shuttles for Tourism Purposes: A Survey Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-17, December.
    20. Su-Yen Chen & Hsin-Yu Kuo & Chiachun Lee, 2020. "Preparing Society for Automated Vehicles: Perceptions of the Importance and Urgency of Emerging Issues of Governance, Regulations, and Wider Impacts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-20, September.
    21. Hopkins, Debbie & Schwanen, Tim, 2023. "Sociotechnical expectations of vehicle automation in the UK trucking sector," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).

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