• One year since the Government announced driverless car trials on UK roads, reports of collisions have made two thirds (66%) of Brits more concerned about the technology[1]
• Almost half (49%) of Brits refuse to be a passenger in a driverless car[2]
• 49% of Brits don’t trust autonomous cars to make nuanced decisions, a fifth (20%) are worried that cars will stop suddenly or drive too slowly and 45% are concerned the software could be hacked[3]
• Two fifths of Brits (41%) expect their insurance premium to skyrocket, even if they do not own an autonomous vehicle themselves[4].
With almost half (49%) refusing to be a passenger in a driverless car[2], consumers have deep concerns over road safety if there is no one behind the wheel. Almost half (49%) don’t trust driverless cars to make nuanced decisions in the event of a difficult driving scenario[3] and a fifth (20%) are worried they will stop suddenly or drive too slowly[3].
But consumers’ appetites for driverless cars haven’t just been curbed by safety worries. Despite assurances from manufacturers that the computer systems powering driverless cars are secure, 45% are worried the software could be vulnerable to data breaches and their personal data compromised - especially in light of high-profile hacks[3].
Fears of adding to the ever-increasing cost of car insurance also threaten to put the brakes on plans. Two fifths (41%) believe their insurance premiums could skyrocket if the technology is introduced on public roads, even if they do not own an autonomous vehicle themselves. Just 15% believe their premiums could drop, despite claims the technology could eliminate driving incidents caused by human error[4].
These concerns could all be a significant blow to the Government, which has been in talks with Google about making Britain one of the first countries in the world to launch driverless cars on its roads.
But not all Brits are worried about the impact of this new technology. In fact, almost half (44%) believe driverless cars will make the roads safer by removing the element of human error, 30% think they will make their lives easier, and a quarter 24% of consumers see autonomous vehicles as the solution to tedious traffic jams[5].
Rod Jones, insurance expert at uSwitch.com, says: “While the Government is motoring ahead with its driverless car plans, these could be put into reverse gear if consumers’ concerns aren’t addressed. Whether it's confronting Google car collisions or clarifying confusion around liability in the event of a crash, cautious consumers have a number of worries.
“With human error accounting for around 90% of road accidents, the potential safety benefits of driverless cars are significant. But, if Britain is to become the world leader in driverless car technology, the Government, manufacturers and the insurance industry must address consumers’ concerns head on.”
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