May 01, 2016 AutonomousDriving, IAM, DriverlessCars, Innovations
New research in the UK has found that in excess of 65% of motorists want to retain the right to drive - even though driverless cars are coming.
British organisation IAM RoadSmart – formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists – conducted an independent survey of 1,000 British motorists and a separate poll among its 92,000 members. Those 65% of motorists believe that a human being should always be in control of the vehicle with 53% saying that the focus should be on making drivers safer – not just cars.
Members of IAM RoadSmart welcome the hi-tech advances which are improving vehicle safety, but want to maintain their control of a car – even though autonomous technology will be able to do it for them.
Sarah Sillars OBE, chief executive of IAM RoadSmart commented: “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. Intelligent cars will deliver a step change in road safety by targeting the human errors we make from time-to-time. At IAM RoadSmart we believe a well-trained driver and an ever-vigilant car is a win-win scenario for the future.”
She continued: “The government is due to consult this summer on how the UK can lead the development of autonomous vehicles; we are ready, willing and able to participate fully in this discussion. One could see a time when motorists might be restricted to driving on designated roads – and possibly just for pleasure rather than for work or getting from A to B.”
The Opinium survey of motorists – results:
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 told that 95% of accidents were down to ‘human error’ and that there was ‘a strong case for taking driver control out of the equation’:
24% agreed with the proposition.
15% disagreed with the proposition.
60% said ‘wait and see’.
When asked whether they would ‘consider using a driverless car’:
32% said yes they would.
38% said no they would not.
29% said that they were unsure.
In the poll conducted among IAM RoadSmart members:
87% thought that once driverless cars are readily available driving should NOT be banned by law.
92% would welcome automated systems that stopped tailgating.
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