Convergence of Emerging Transportation Trends: A Comprehensive Review of Shared Autonomous Vehicles

The mobility landscape is experiencing major changes due to two emerging transportation trends, autonomous vehicles (AVs) and on-demand transportation, and the convergence of these smart mobility innovations as shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) can considerably alter travel behavior and consequently the ecological and societal aspects of the transportation sector. On-demand autonomous mobility is a promising transportation mode, but further research is necessary to evaluate its various aspects and implications prior to widespread adoption. Thus, this study investigates the effects of integrating automation and on-demand mobility by analyzing the effects on the environment, public transportation, land use, vehicle ownership, and public acceptance. A comprehensive literature review was performed, and through a detailed review of 210 articles, the impacts of each of these categories were determined and classified according to their causes, and the number of publications with which they were cited in the literature was determined. The review showed that SAVs can either positively or negatively impact categories and have the potential to minimize mobility obstacles and transportation inequity if legislators use technology to develop a better transportation system by initiating effective policies that govern the four impacted areas. A list of 22 policy recommendations designed to avoid the negative consequences of SAVs by maximizing the benefits of the technology while limiting the associated risks was also identified. The findings of this review will be beneficial to AV manufacturers, transportation professionals, and especially policymakers, who play an integral role in shaping how society benefits from SAV technology.