Understanding how people embrace and adopt new regulations is crucial in today’s rapidly changing world. This study presents a fresh perspective by applying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT-2) to investigate policy acceptance, and to validate a fundamental model for future research. More precisely, we employ the UTAUT-2 framework to examine how Macau residents perceive the “Northbound Travel for Macau Vehicles” policy, which permits vehicles with Macau registration plates to enter mainland China through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Utilizing structural equation modeling software (SmartPLS), we analyze data collected from respondents who have experience with the new regulation. Our findings demonstrate that Performance Expectancy (PE) and Habit (HB) significantly influence individuals’ intention to utilize the policy. Essentially, individuals are more inclined to embrace policies they perceive as advantageous and in line with their existing habits. Effort Expectancy (EE) and Facilitating Conditions (FC) did not significantly affect acceptance, possibly because participants were already familiar with the regulation and had sufficient resources available.
Notably, while not directly linked to usage, Social Influence (SI) exhibited a high mean value, suggesting its potential role in policy acceptance when significant others adopt the policy. This pioneering research bridges the gap between technology acceptance models and policy studies, providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating acceptance factors in an evolving regulatory environment.