Public values in the socio-technical construction of autonomous vehicle futures

This study argues that policymaking guided by public values can help to secure public benefit in technology implementation, for two reasons. Firstly, the emergence and deliberation over plural values can result in more publicly beneficial outcomes; secondly, public values establish the meaningful link between public interest and policy goals. We explore the value bases of arguments around the societal implementation of autonomous vehicles through interviews with professionals. Mapping values on a conceptual model with two dimensions of recognition-neglect and consensus-dissensus, we find that a limited set of values receives recognition, while two distinct sets are contested or neglected almost entirely.