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Drivers Not Ready for Autonomous Vehicles

If given a choice, a whopping 75% of U.S. drivers said they would still rather drive than ride in an autonomous vehicle with 71% noting that they would miss the act of driving, according to a recent survey by CariD.

by Marianne Mathews
May 1, 2018
Drivers Not Ready for Autonomous Vehicles

Photo of autonomous Nissan LEAF at 2014 Geneva Motor Show via Noebu/Wikimedia.

2 min to read


If given a choice, a whopping 75% of U.S. drivers said they would still rather drive than ride in an autonomous vehicle with 71% noting that they would miss the act of driving, according to a recent survey by CariD.

The survey explores conceptions, and misconceptions, the general public has about autonomous vehicles. Though based on a relatively small sample of 1,034 demographically and geographically diverse individuals, the findings paint a picture of a skeptical public that is not ready for, and may not want, self-driving cars.

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Safety was key factor covered in the survey. While proponents argue that self-driving cars will enhance roadway safety through significant reductions in accidents, injuries and fatalities once all vehicles are autonomous, survey respondents felt otherwise.

The majority of respondents (55%)  said they expect autonomous cars to greatly reduce, but not eliminate, collisions and injuries. Yet 24% see no correlation to increased safety, predicting that accident, injury and fatality rates will stay about the same with the advent of autonomous vehicles.

Respondents were nearly split when it came to questioning their own safety when riding in an autonomous vehicle — with 53% saying they would feel either somewhat or very unsafe and 46% saying they would feel ether somewhat or very safe.

Despite their feelings on safety, the majority of respondents (66%) believe the U.S. government should be involved in regulating autonomous vehicles.

Survey authors note that there was a surprising lack of understanding among the majority of respondents as to what an autonomous vehicle even is. Only 48% correctly identified the cars as ones that are controlled entirely by autonomous technology.

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The survey was conducted in March using SurveyMonkey, according to CARiD.

Read the full report here.

Related: Autonomous Vehicle Bill Stalled in Senate

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