Drivers Fear Driverless Tech
AAA survey finds they favor semiautonomous safety features instead.

For several years running, most survey respondents say automakers should prioritize vehicle safety features over self-driving technology.
Pexels/Malte Luk
Though slightly more U.S. drivers than last year would trust a car to drive them around, most still fear it and prefer automakers focus on better vehicle safety features.
A AAA study interviewed more than 1,000 drivers in January to assess attitudes toward driverless technology.
The survey found that 61% of American drivers are nervous about riding in a self-driving vehicle, down from 66% last year but still a significant barrier to adoption. Twenty-six said they’re unsure about the technology, while just 13% would trust it, up from 9% last year.
Overriding sentiment continued to center on vehicle safety systems for several years running, 78% of survey respondents saying automakers should prioritize those over self-driving vehicle features. Just 13% prioritize self-driving vehicle technology, down from 18% in 2022.
“AAA believes addressing consumer concerns means transparency regarding ADAS performance with clear communication about its limitations,” the nonprofit organization said in a press release on the survey findings. “Advanced vehicle safety technology should enhance driver safety rather than give the impression that the car is driving itself.”
Since companies operating self-driving taxis, or robotaxis, have established service in several major U.S. cities, 74% of survey respondents were aware of them, but 53% said they wouldn’t hail one, though that majority was smaller among millennial and Generation X respondents.
Meanwhile, most drivers want semiautonomous features in their next vehicles: 64% of respondents would “definitely” or “probably” want automatic emergency braking, 62% reverse automatic emergency braking, and 59% lane-keeping assistance, according to the survey.
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