Less Than Half of Drivers Believe Autonomous Vehicles are Safer

While 83% of drivers want blind spot warning technology in their vehicles, only 61% expressed interest in self-driving technology, according to a recent survey from S&P Global Mobility.

The findings indicate that drivers are well aware of the safety benefits of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and welcome the technology. For example, over 80% of the approximately 8,000 motorists surveyed said they want forward collision warning and rear mirror cameras in their vehicles.

Other top-five desired ADAS features include automatic emergency braking (AEB) for vehicles and pedestrians, as well as night vision.

What Do the Drivers Think About Self-Driving Tech?

However, survey respondents appear to remain wary when it comes to self-driving technology. Rather, they still prefer automated driving features where the driver maintains more control. Only 69% of consumers desire Level 2 autonomy. Even fewer — some 65% -- said they want Level 2+ hands-off automated highway driving.

When it comes to autonomous driving, the trust factors remain low. While 53% of drivers felt that an autonomous car would drive more efficiently than a normal car, only 48% felt that it would be safer.

A key reason why drivers may shy away from self-driving technology is the fact that they have little if any experience with it and simply do not understand how an autonomous vehicle works. For example, many drivers wonder if the car will fully take over the task of driving, leaving them free to no longer focus on the road.

Also noteworthy, drivers in some countries are more open to self-driving technology than others. For example, drivers in Mainland China have consistently shown the highest desirability scores for self-driving technology. However, drivers in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Germany have shown the least amount of interest in autonomous driving,

The survey concludes that automakers will have to better communicate the benefits of autonomous driving if they want self-driving technology to gain greater acceptance among drivers.