Research shows 61% of adults believe the biggest issue with driverless cars is technology. 33% were worried about the software going wrong. 15% feel unsafe to hand over control to a computer. 1 in 10 are even worried about hacking.
The research conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of RSA More Than found safety is of paramount concern for most drivers. 87% of the adults want the roads to be safer for all users, including drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Drink drivers were cited as the most worrying factor on our roads, with other concerns including speeding and accidents – all areas that driverless vehicles would supposedly help out with.
Brits want to stay in control on the road, with 68% of people wanting to keep their own car then swap to a driverless vehicle.
Furthermore, the research revealed only 35% of people think driverless cars will significantly reduce the 1.2 million deaths on the world’s roads each year. This means that most don’t think there will be a reduction in deaths at all.
Interestly, it’s not just safety that people are uncertain about! 31% of people are unsure about whether or not driverless cars will make costs more affordable. With human errors such as speeding and accidents are the reason why most companies charge so much for insurance. 70% of people expect that premiums will drop by at least 25% in price.
If the technology can’t insure safety or cost reduction, it’s no surprise that most drivers would rather choose their own car over one with driverless technology.
View the full case study here to find out how we carried out this research and the coverage it generated.