American drivers conflicted about self-driving cars

A new report from AAA reveals that most U.S. drivers want autonomous technologies in their next vehicle, but they still fear the idea of a fully self-driving car.

Despite the prospect that autonomous vehicles will be more safe, more efficient and more convenient than their human-driven counterparts, three-quarters of U.S. drivers still report feeling afraid to ride in a self-driving car (unchanged from AAA’s 2016 survey) and only 10 percent report that they’d actually feel safer sharing the roads with driverless vehicles.

“The race is on toward self-driving cars but consumers are proceeding with caution,” says Tammy Arnette, Senior Public Affairs Specialist for AAA. “AAA supports a  gradual, safe introduction of these technologies to ensure that drivers have a comprehensive understanding of their car’s capabilities and are well prepared for a safe transition.”

While the majority are afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle, the latest survey also found that the majority (59%) of Americans are keen to have autonomous features in their next vehicle. This marked contrast suggests that American drivers are ready embrace autonomous technology, but they are not yet ready to give up full control.

“U.S. drivers may experience the driver assistance technologies in their cars today and feel they don’t work consistently enough to replace a human driver – and they’re correct,” says Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations. “While these technologies will continue to improve over time, it’s important that consumers understand that today’s systems require your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.”

 

Virginia Survey

In Virginia, drivers feel conflicted about autonomous technology.  A separate AAA statewide survey found that more than half (52%) believe that they will be routinely riding in a self-driving vehicle within 10 years.

Beyond the findings of the national survey regarding safety concerns, more than 60 percent (61%) of Virginia drivers surveyed expressed concern about the security of data shared by autonomous vehicles.

Additionally, if Virginia is planning to do any AV testing, more than 80 percent (81%) of those surveyed think that local and state governments should inform the public about when and where that testing will occur.

Additional findings from the National survey include:

• Half (54%) of U.S. drivers feel less safe at the prospect of sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle, while one-third (34%) feel it wouldn’t make a difference and only 10 percent say they would feel safer.
  • Women (58%) are more likely to feel less safe than men (49%).
  • Baby Boomers (60%) are more likely to feel less safe than Generation X (56%) or Millennials (41%)

• The majority (59%) of U.S. drivers want autonomous vehicle technology in their next vehicle, while the remainder do not (25%) or are unsure (16%).
  • Millennials (70%) are the most likely to want the technologies, compared to Generation X (54%) and Baby Boomers (51%).
• Three-quarters (78%) of Americans are afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle.
  • Baby Boomers (85%) are more likely to be afraid than Millennials (73%) and Generation X (75%) drivers.
  • Women (85%) are more likely to be afraid than men (69%).

To educate consumers on the effectiveness of emerging vehicle technologies, AAA is committed to the on-going, unbiased testing of automated vehicle technologies. Previous testing of automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, self-parking technology and lane keeping systems has shown both great promise and great variation. This variation may be particularly concerning to consumers, with AAA’s survey revealing that 81 percent of Americans feel that automated vehicle systems should all work similarly and consistently across all vehicle manufacturers. Future AAA testing will look at how well systems work together to achieve higher levels of automation.

“Every year, we lose approximately 35,000 people on America’s roadways, most as a result of human error,” said Arnette. “Autonomous technology has the potential to dramatically reduce this number, but automakers, government agencies and safety organizations like AAA must continue working together to ensure that these new vehicles are safely tested and deployed.”

For additional information about the survey, including a fact sheet and infographics, visit NewsRoom.AAA.com.