USA Today – Would you ride in a self-driving car? Survey says most Americans would not
Editors note: it doesn’t matter how amazing ones technology might be. If consumers are not interested, then you don’t have a viable business. This lack of interest is what is going to kill of this generation of robotaxis.
See original article by Seth Jacobson at USA Today
If you had the chance to take a ride in a self-driving vehicle, would you?
Most Americans would say no, according to a recent survey by AAA.
“Most drivers are interested in advanced technology to enhance safety but still want to maintain a sense of control over their vehicles,” Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast, said in a written statement. “When it comes to gaining consumer trust in self-driving vehicles, automakers face a long road ahead and as vehicle technology continues to evolve, educating consumers on safety standards is paramount.”
Here’s more about what the survey says.
What do Americans think about self-driving cars?
The overwhelming majority still don’t trust riding in self-driving cars, the AAA survey stated.Need a break?
“Just 13% of U.S. drivers indicated they’d feel safe riding in a self-driving or autonomous vehicle (AV),” according to the survey. “That’s up from last year, when 9% of drivers said they’d be comfortable. Despite the slight increase, 6 in 10 drivers still report being afraid to get into a vehicle that drives itself.”
Where can self-driving vehicles be found?
Robotaxis, which are self-driving vehicles used for taxi services – operate in several major cities, the survey stated, adding that “74% of drivers were aware of robotaxis, but more than half (53%) said they would choose not to ride in one.”
In the United States, some of the cities robotaxis are operating in include San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin and Las Vegas. Tesla has talked about launching self-driving cars in Austin in 2025.
There has been testing of self-driving cars in Massachusetts.
Are self-driving cars important to American drivers?
The survey indicates that self-driving cars are not particularly important to today’s drivers. Rather, vehicle safety is their primary concern, according to the AAA survey.
The survey noted that “78% of survey respondents listed advancements in safety systems as a top vehicle technology initiative. In contrast, the development of self-driving vehicles is a low priority as only 13% of drivers expressed interest in AV technology.”
What do drivers want these days?
Technology is still of interest to drivers these days.
The AAA survey stated that “interest in advanced driver assistance features continues to remain high.”
It found that “64% of U.S. drivers would ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ want Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) on their next vehicle, 62% would want Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking, and 59% would want Lane Keeping Assistance.”
“Advanced driver assistance technologies should enhance driver safety rather than give the impression that the car is driving itself,” Schieldrop stated in a release. “As the software and sensors that power these systems continue to improve, drivers must be informed about their limitations as well.”
See original article by Seth Jacobson at USA Today
