Navigating Perceived Crime Risks in Autonomous Urban Transport

About this Research Topic

Background

As cities transition toward autonomous and intelligent transportation systems, questions of not only operational safety but also perceived safety have gained prominence. One critical and often underexplored area is the perception of crime risk in autonomous urban transport. Unlike traditional systems with visible operators or staff, autonomous mobility services (e.g., driverless shuttles, robo-taxis) may create psychological uncertainties among users, particularly in socially vulnerable populations. Perceptions of crime, whether aligned with actual crime statistics or not, can deter adoption and disproportionately affect female, older people, and economically deprived communities. Understanding these perceptions—and their spatial, temporal, and socio-demographic dimensions—is vital to creating inclusive, accessible, and resilient transport systems in the era of automation in transportation.

This Research Topic seeks to critically explore the intersection of perceived crime risk and emerging autonomous transport technologies within urban settings. The goal is to foster multidisciplinary dialogue across urban planning, criminology, transportation engineering, human factors, and AI ethics to address the psychological, spatial, and social dimensions of safety perception. We aim to uncover both empirical patterns and theoretical frameworks that can inform design, policy, and technological interventions to enhance public trust in autonomous urban transport systems. Ultimately, the issue strives to contribute actionable knowledge that supports equitable and fear-reducing mobility innovation.

We welcome original research, case studies, theoretical frameworks, methodological innovations, and policy analyses that address perceived crime risk in autonomous transport systems. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):

• Public perceptions of safety in autonomous vehicles and transit environments
• Demographic patterns of crime risk in driverless mobility (especially related to gender)
• Design strategies for enhancing perceived safety in autonomous shuttles or taxis
• The role of surveillance, lighting, and AI monitoring in mitigating perceived threats
• Human-machine interaction and its effect on trust and perceived security
• Comparative studies across cities or cultures regarding fear of crime in AVs
• Policy implications for urban transport planning and community engagement

Submissions from lower- and middle-income country contexts are strongly encouraged, particularly those addressing equity and inclusion in smart mobility adoption.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Perceived safety. Crime risk perception. Autonomous urban transport. Transit security. Socio-technical systems

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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