An oft overlooked factor in acceptance of AVs is that the evolution of technology from driver-assist to autonomy will alter perceptions: First, human drivers u

An oft overlooked factor in acceptance of AVs is that the evolution of technology from driver-assist to autonomy will alter perceptions: First, human drivers using driver assist will become safer "drivers" even though the added safety is properly the result of the technology that is evolving toward AVs. For example, it should become very difficult for a human driver to hit a pedestrian or cyclist. Not impossible. Just exceedingly unlikely to be the fault of the driver. Secondly, driver assist will habituate drivers and other road users to the performance characteristics of AV technology. The upshot is that AV technology will not be benchmarked against the way drivers and other road users behave and perform today. In some ways the expectations for incrementally better safety will be higher. In other ways, the "flavor" or road risks will change in a way that converges on how AVs perform.