AAA Survey: Drivers Tell Automakers To Focus on Safety More Than Autonomy

Posted on February 25, 2021

Automakers hold the key that will allow more people to embrace self-driving cars: they need to fine-tune existing automated technology so more consumers will buy such vehicles, according to a new AAA Automated Vehicle Survey.

 

More than half of drivers (58%) surveyed said they want automated safety systems like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist in their next new car; and an even larger majority (80%) want manufacturers to develop technology that works better than it does now. Only 22% wanted carmakers to focus on developing self-driving cars.

 

If drivers feel good about their new car’s safety systems, they’ll more likely accept the notion of riding in fully autonomous vehicles, said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “People are ready to embrace new technology, especially if it makes driving safer,” she added. “If automakers seize opportunities to provide better driving experiences today, drivers will more likely feel safe in the vehicles of tomorrow.”

 

For the past six years, AAA’s annual Automated Vehicle Survey reported Americans struggle with embracing self-driving vehicles as a mode of transportation. Even though interest in owning such a car is growing, only 14% of surveyed drivers said they trust riding in a car that drives itself. As with most ‘unknowns,’ consumers generally fear riding in a car they don’t have to control.

 

Previous AAA research also reports some of the new-car automated technology doesn’t meet driver expectations and, as a result, has negatively influenced public opinion of future vehicle automation, said Mayko. “This research reinforces the need for car manufacturers to refine their existing technology by expanding testing and focusing on more real-world scenarios encountered by drivers.”

 

Of all 2020 new-vehicle models on the market, nearly 96% are equipped with at least one advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), such as automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning or lane-keeping assistance, so consumers who buy a new car now will most likely own a vehicle with at least one type of automated safety system. “In many cases, this is the buyer’s first encounter with advanced vehicle technology,” said Mayko.

 

Although fully autonomous vehicles are still years away before they come to market, drivers will continue to interact with various levels of new-vehicle technology. “It’ll take a collective effort on the part of industry and consumers to move the needle away from consumer apprehension and closer toward buyer acceptance of self-driving cars,” said Mayko. “Consumers need to educate themselves and the auto industry needs to provide transparent, accurate and frequent information on the development of self-driving vehicles that will eventually be part of our daily lives.”

 

AAA surveyed 1,000 US adults in mid-January online and by phone. The survey had a margin of error of 4% at the 95% confidence level.

 

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