WASHINGTON, D. C. (Wednesday, January 24, 2018) –– As the 2018 Washington Auto Show dawns this week, there are signs American drivers are beginning to embrace self-driving vehicles, a new consumer survey from AAA reveals. Six out of ten U.S. drivers - 63 percent - report feeling afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle. It’s a significant decrease from 78 percent in early 2017.

Millennial and male drivers are the most trusting of autonomous technologies, with only half reporting they would be afraid to ride in a self-driving car. To ensure that American drivers continue to be informed, prepared and comfortable with this shift in mobility, AAA urges automakers to prioritize consumer education.

AAA continues to track how American drivers feel about new vehicle technologies. The findings of the latest AAA survey of consumer attitudes toward self-driving vehicles come as thought leaders, researchers, lawmakers, and regulators from around the world converge on Washington this week for the 2018 Washington Auto Show’s Mobility Talks International^® forum, notes AAA. In light of the changing landscape of transportation, they will focus, in large part, on the future of connected and autonomous technologies. That future is now, the new AAA consumer survey reveals. Both Washington, D.C. and Virginia have passed legislation addressing the potential impacts of autonomous vehicles on the road.  

“Although the growth of autonomous and connected vehicle technologies continues to outpace regulations and policy, the qualms that some consumers harbor relating to fully self-driving vehicles are beginning to ease,” noted John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “Consumers are shifting their attitudes toward self-driving vehicles as they increasingly own vehicles equipped with semi-autonomous features. As consumers gain more exposure to the technologies, the ‘fear factor’ is decreasing. It is, in fact, down significantly from both the 2016 and 2017 reports, which found three-quarters of U.S. drivers were ‘afraid’ to ride in a self-driving car.”

In AAA’s latest survey, only 13 percent of U.S. drivers report they would feel safer sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle while nearly half (46 percent) would actually feel less safe. Others say they are indifferent (37 percent) or unsure (4 percent).  

“Americans are starting to feel more comfortable with the idea of self-driving vehicles,” AAA Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations Director Greg Brannon said. “Compared to just a year ago, AAA found that 20 million more U.S. drivers would trust a self-driving vehicle to take them for a ride.”

While riding in a fully self-driving vehicle is a futuristic concept for most, testing of these vehicles in the United States means that sharing the road with an automated vehicle is an increasing near-term possibility. In this situation, drivers remain leery of self-driving vehicles.

Additional survey results include:

• Women (73 percent) are more likely than men (52 percent) to be afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle, and more likely to feel less safe sharing the road with a self-driving car (55 percent versus 36 percent).
• Millennials are the most trusting of self-driving vehicles, with only 49 percent (down from 73 percent) reporting that they would be afraid to ride in a self-driving car. While the majority of Baby Boomers (68 percent) still report being afraid to ride in a self-driving car, this generation is significantly more comfortable with the idea than they were a year ago, when 85 percent reported being afraid.
• Baby Boomers (54 percent) and Generation X (47 percent) drivers are more likely than Millennial drivers (34 percent) to feel less safe sharing the road with a self-driving car.

Although fears of self-driving vehicles appear to be easing, U.S. drivers report high confidence in their own driving abilities. Despite the fact that more than 90 percent of crashes involve human error, three-quarters (73 percent) of U.S. drivers consider themselves better-than-average drivers. Men, in particular, are confident in their driving skills with 8 in 10 considering their driving skills better than average.

“AAA found that American drivers are very confident in their driving abilities, which may explain some hesitation to give up full control to a self-driving vehicle,” Brannon said. “Education, exposure and experience will likely help ease consumer fears as we steer toward a more automated future.”

To help educate consumers on the effectiveness of emerging vehicle technologies, AAA is committed to the ongoing, unbiased testing of automated vehicle technologies. Previous testing of automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, self-parking technology and lane keeping systems has shown both great promise and great variation. Future AAA testing will look at how well systems work together to achieve higher levels of automation.

“Since 2012, at least 41 states and D.C. have considered legislation related to autonomous vehicles,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Of that tally, “twenty-one states, including Virginia, and Washington, D.C. have passed legislation related to autonomous vehicles.”

AAA provides more than 58 million members with automotive, travel, insurance and financial services through its federation of 36 motor clubs and nearly 1,100 branch offices across North America. Since 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for safe mobility. Drivers can request roadside assistance, identify nearby gas prices, locate discounts, book a hotel or map a route via the AAA Mobile app. To join, visit AAA.com.

Follow us on Twitter: @AAADCNews

Like us on Facebook: AAA Mid-Atlantic News

Washington, D.C. Mailing Address:
1405 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com