There is no avoiding it, driverless cars are coming. Like the technology or not, you can expect to see plenty of cars on the roads in years to come which are completely autonomous. But even so, a study has shown that 65% of motorists want to keep the right to drive. I'm with them if I'm honest. I am not against driverless cars but I love driving so much I don't think I could let a car do it for me.
IAM RoadSmart carried out the survey and asked 1,000 British motorists and conducted a separate poll for its 92,000 members. The IAM RoadSmart members are happy to see in the new technology as it will increase safety but even so, they would still want to be able to drive the car if desired.
Sarah Sillars OBE, chief executive of IAM RoadSmart said:
“Technological advances that make driving and riding safer for all road users have to be embraced whole-heartedly – but British motorists and our members, do want the right to drive."
Other outcomes of the survey are:
65% thought that a human being should always be in charge of a vehicle.
20% thought that driverless cars were a ‘good idea’.
34% thought that driverless cars were a ‘bad idea’.
22% thought that driverless cars would ‘be the norm on UK roads’.
52% thought that driverless cars would never be the norm on UK roads.
16% thought that driverless cars are an ‘exciting prospect’.
When asked if they would consider taking advantage of autonomous technology, 32% said yes, 38% said no and the remaining 29% were sat on the fence. However there is a bigger consensus when it comes to tailgating as 92% would welcome autonomous systems that stopped tailgating. Who are the 8% that enjoy tailgating? That's what I want to know...