Do driver assistance systems mitigate passengers’ perceived risk when riding with a driver under the influence of alcohol? Evidence from a discrete choice experiment among youths

Recently, the presence of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) on passenger cars has become extensive, also prompted by EU regulation mandating their inclusion in new vehicles. While ADAS are effective in reducing crash frequency, there is growing concern about a potential risk compensation effect – namely, that drivers or passengers may engage in riskier behavior due to a perceived increase in safety when ADAS are present. This study evaluates the trade-offs made by youths when assessing the risk of riding with a driver under the influence of alcohol, in the presence or absence of ADAS. We develop a discrete choice experiment and estimate several discrete choice models, including latent class and hybrid choice models. Our findings suggest that many respondents perceive ADAS as mitigating the danger associated with higher alcohol intake, implying that the presence of ADAS may unintentionally lower perceived risk and potentially encourage risk-taking behavior. Both model types reveal heterogeneity in preferences, with a significant association between perceived negative consequences of drink driving and the mitigating effect attributed to ADAS. Policy implications are discussed.