To use AVs or not to use AVs? That is the question!
When you think about the future of mobility, what do you imagine? Can you see yourself utilising Autonomous Vehicles (AV)? Can you imagine sitting on your laptop whilst an AV takes you from one meeting to the next?
How will you adapt to this new technology? How do you think society will have to adapt and change to really enable this technology to assist us?
According to a recent study by Goodyear Tyres, whilst driverless technology may be on its way, hesitation remains amongst UK drivers.
The new study, from Goodyear and the London School of Economics, found that 55 percent of the UK drivers surveyed would feel uncomfortable driving on roads alongside autonomous vehicles, significantly above the 39 percent average in 10 other European countries. However, 28 percent of respondents said they would be comfortable driving alongside AVs, similar to the 30 percent in the other 10 countries.
Carlos Cipollitti, Director of the Goodyear Innovation Centre Luxembourg comments: “Our study explores how the road might evolve with the arrival of Autonomous Vehicles. Enabling a ‘social interaction’ between human drivers and AVs will be a crucial part of this process. As an active contributor to the debates on road safety and innovation, Goodyear is exploring some of the key areas that are shaping the future of mobility. We hope that the insights generated by this research will help all relevant stakeholders to work together towards a successful introduction of AVs.”
The research, part of a study into the technology conducted in 11 European countries, also found that UK respondents were more uncomfortable with the idea of using (55 percent vs. 43 percent average), or driving alongside (55 percent vs. 39 percent average), a driverless car than ten other European countries.
One of the possible factors behind this discomfort could be a greater concern with AV technology. 83 percent of the approximately 1,500 UK survey respondents feared that “Autonomous cars could malfunction”, compared to 71 percent in the ten other countries.
“Although many drivers are making increasing use of discrete automated systems within the car, such as cruise control or parking assist, nevertheless a gut feeling persists that there needs to be a human driver in control of the vehicle” said Dr. Chris Tennant, who investigated the findings with the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at LSE.
64 percent of UK respondents agreed that as a point of principle, humans should be in control of their vehicles. In addition, 78 percent said a driverless car should have a steering wheel to allow the driver to override the system and take control of the vehicle.
Safety, however, was an area where respondents were more positive regarding the introduction of autonomous vehicles, with 41 percent of respondents agreeing that, “Most accidents are caused by human error, so autonomous vehicles would be safer,” with 22 percent disagreeing.44 percent also felt that AVs might be better drivers, as “Machines don’t have emotions.” On the other hand 65 percent of UK respondents agree that ‘Machines don’t have the common sense to interact with human drivers’ on the road, with 10 percent disagreeing.
Dr Tennant, concludes, “Despite the high profile for driverless technology in the media today, it’s clear that many people still have fundamental misgivings about the technology. Our research identifies a number of deep-seated reservations – from the willingness to give up control, to the reliability of the technology and the vehicle’s ability to integrate into the social space that is the road.”
New pilot schemes are bringing driverless technology closer and closer to the public on the road where they will encounter, and have to deal with, these reservations”.
