A lack of trust in safety technology and an emotional "attachment" to car ownership are two key road blocks to a future of vehicle sharing and self-driving cars, according to a new study.

The study Being Driven: A study on Human Adoption of Autonomous Vehicles, by Neckermann Strategic Advisors, in collaboration with specialist agency 7^th Sense Research UK, found that humans are today not ready to make a "double leap" of faith when considering future personal transportation.

The survey revealed that 75% are not comfortable with, or undecided, about future adoption of AVs, along with strong resistance to a future of shared car ownership.

The study also shows that 60% of respondents would favor a private use, private ownership model as being the most appealing way of accessing autonomous transport. This is at odds with the previous industry assumption that shared ownership would form the core of future mobility.

It could be at least 10 years before autonomous vehicles, and the sharing of them, will become part and parcel of society. This, combined with a perceived lack of prestige in not owning a vehicle, suggests that the majority of today’s motorists aren’t yet ready for mobility concepts of the future.

With the automotive and tech industries looking toward the greater integration of autonomous technology into mainstream cars, the new survey illustrates the path required for buyers to embrace the concept of self-driving cars. One of the study takeaways highlights that an increased communication of the benefits of AVs is vital to combat the fear of the unknown and inspire the greater level of trust required for widespread end-user acceptance.

“Consumers need to be inspired by the benefits of AVs instead of being flummoxed by the technology," Lukas Neckermann, managing director of Neckermann Strategic Advisors and co-author of the study, said in a statement. "The promise of enhanced journey safety, convenience, and dependability is much more compelling than endless discussions on the trolley-problem and number of miles driven in autonomous mode.”

7^th Sense was commissioned to survey more than 3,000 U.K. residents, using a nuanced survey rigorously compiled to create data that could be analysed to reveal societal expectations for future mobility. The Neckermann study complemented the survey with extensive global research and interviews with governing bodies, vehicle manufacturers and autonomous vehicle technologists, among others.