RAC Report on Motoring 2016

RAC Report on Motoring 2016

5.0 The car of the future

5.2 Trust in technology The Report also highlights that there is still a considerable amount of work to do to convince the public that the benefits of driverless vehicles outweigh the perceived risks. There is a high and growing level of agreement (62% against 52% in 2015) that driverless cars will improve mobility for older and disabled people. But less than three in 10 (27%) think the introduction of driverless vehicles will make our roads safer (no change on last year). Experts regard improved safety as one of the primary benefits of driverless cars because driver error would become a thing of the past. However, the reputation of driverless cars has been severely dented by a recent fatal accident involving a driverless car in the US 31 . Generally, there is a great deal of uncertainty and suspicion regarding new technologies in cars that affect drivers and their behaviour. More than two-thirds (69%) say they are

opposed to any new technology that has the potential to distract drivers, although this is down significantly from 75% last year. Just over half (51%) of motorists feel that many of the new technologies associated with autonomous vehicles will lead to complacency among drivers and therefore more accidents, but again this proportion has declined (from 59%) in the last 12 months. And almost half of motorists (49%) say they are not looking forward to travelling in a driverless car, while only a quarter (25%) say they are. Motorists over the age of 65 are least likely to be enthusiastic about this prospect. Just 14% of this group say they are looking forward to using a driverless car, compared with 33% of those aged between 25 and 44. This is perhaps a reflection of younger generations being more accustomed to the fast pace of technological change.

31. www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/tesla-crash-autopilot-driverless- model-s-death-experts-defend-technology-a7113431.html 82