Survey Shows UK Drivers Are Warming Up to Driverless Cars

A new survey has revealed that 22% of road users in the United Kingdom would trust a driverless car and be comfortable traveling in one.

That figure compares favorably with an American Automobile Association poll from earlier this year which showed that only 9% of U.S. drivers say they trust autonomous vehicles (AVs). 

The U.K. research, conducted by vehicle history check specialist HPI, saw more than 2,000 adults surveyed on their attitudes toward automated transport and revealed some interesting differences of opinion between genders and age groups, and even based on location.

It found that generally males are more trusting of driverless cars than females, with 28% of men happy to use one compared with 16% of women.

As ages go up, trust goes down. While 33% of 18-26-year-olds were comfortable with the idea of driverless vehicles, that figure fell to 17% among those aged between 55 and 64, and even further in those over 65, where only 12% said they were at ease with the idea.

Which part of the U.K. people live in also seems to have a bearing. People in London, Europe’s biggest city, were the most accepting of driverless tech at 22%, while least trusting were those in Wales, a much more rural environment, at only 9%.

There is clearly work to do, though, in persuading people why autonomous transport can be a good idea. Only a disappointing 15% believe that driverless cars will result in safer roads, with 22% saying that they thought that roads will be no more or less safe than they are at present. 

Related:AAA Survey Finds Drivers Don’t Trust Self-Driving Vehicles

Although the survey’s headline figures are more positive than has been seen in similar U.S. studies, it’s important to acknowledge that the U.K. is still some way behind America in terms of the introduction of automated cars. There are no self-driving taxi services running anywhere in the country, for example, meaning the British public has not been exposed to the barrage of publicity – both positive and negative – they have generated in the U.S.

Indeed, the HPI survey revealed that users’ experience of automation in vehicles is still quite limited, with only 42% saying they drive a car with semi-autonomous features such as lane assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control or active driving assistance.

However, change is coming in the U.K., with the passing of the Automated Vehicles Act earlier this year potentially paving the way for self-driving vehicles to hit the road in 2026.

“The AV Act aims to improve road safety by reducing human error, which is estimated to contribute to 88% of road collisions,” said HPI’s Matt Freeman.”Driverless cars could save lives, reduce traffic and lessen the longstanding reliance on people to transport freight. 

Related:Self-Driving Cars to Hit UK Roads by 2026; New Legislation Passed

“Our latest research into public attitudes towards driverless cars presents some insightful findings and it seems that people are getting increasingly used to the idea.”