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This study aims to explore and to define the main topics and concerns regarding the issue of autonomous vehicles in the Czech population. Further, the change of these topics throughout time is explored. To do this, the qualitative content analysis of comments below news articles concerning autonomous vehicles on popular Czech Internet websites was performed to extract main discussed topics.With a huge development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and its technology, the question of successful implementation arises. The acceptance of this technology by the end users stands for an important factor of the implementation. For this, general attitudes toward autonomous vehicles and various concerns of people provide important information. The aim of this paper is to explore main topics and concerns regarding the issue of autonomous vehicles in the Czech population. The qualitative analysis of internet discussions beneath news articles about autonomous vehicles (AVs) on popular Czech news portals was performed. Two separated data collections were performed for a total of 17 articles from July 2014 to February 2020 to address the changes in attitudes through time. Content analysis revealed a general skepticism and a large number of concerns. The negativity and fear of the Czech discussants stemmed mainly from insufficient knowledge of the topic. Content analysis revealed main topics concerned the introduction of autonomous mobility into general practice in terms of time (when), experience (especially previous negative experience with elements of control automation), and analogy (comparisons to other modes of transport). Other important topics addressed driving pleasure, (dis)trust of manufacturers, legal and ethical questions about AV, risk of hacker attacks, reactions of drivers of conventional vehicles, carsharing, financial use of AV, manual takeover, application of AV only for some modes of transportation (e.g., freight transport), and a difficulty of introducing AVs into the Czech environment. In contrast to foreign opinion polls, there were no topics related to privacy and the misuse of personal data. It was not possible to find socio-demographic variables from the discussion threads, but information about the preference of news portals by older age groups was obtained from the data on the monitored portals. Assuming that authors of the comments were older people, the negative attitude towards AV corresponds to the current literature. In order to ensure representative data, it will be necessary to identify socio-demographic variables and the extension of the analyzed discussion threads to social networks as part of further research. Without these preconditions, it will be difficult to determine accurate evaluations and possibly to create an educational campaign for the general public focused on autonomous mobility.

In the present theoretical paper, the current body of knowledge regarding the use of wearable virtual reality (VR) technologies for traffic psychological examination (TPE) is introduced, critically discussed and a specific application is suggested. The combination of wearable head-mounted displays for VR with an interactive and cost-effective haptic driving interface is emphasized as a valid and viable platform for a driving skills psychological assessment, which is in several aspects superior to standard TPE as well as driving simulators. For this purpose, existing psychological examination methods and psychological phenomena relevant in the process of driving are discussed together with VR technology’s properties and options. Special focus is dedicated to situation awareness as a crucial, but currently hardly measurable construct, where VR in combination with embedded eye-tracking (ET) technology represents a promising solution. Furthermore, the suitability and possibilities of these VR tools for valid traffic psychological examination are analyzed and discussed. Additionally, potentially desirable measures for driving assessment based on recent advances of VR are outlined and practical applications are suggested. The aim of this article is to bring together recent advances in TPE, VR and ET; revise previous relevant studies in the field; and to propose concept of the cost effective, mobile and expandable HMD-based driving simulator, which can be suitable for an ecologically valid driving assessment and follow-up TPE in common practice.

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