Despite the Government’s vision for autonomous driving forming an important part of the recent Queen’s Speech, a new poll has revealed the UK’s motorists remain decidedly lukewarm on the idea.
The Modern Transport Bill would 'ensure the UK is at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport, including autonomous and electric vehicles’ said the Queen, announcing Government plans to make Britain a world leader in driverless motoring. However, a new survey commissioned by vehicle CCTV specialists SmartWitness found that the public remains sceptical on the subject.
Opinion over the introduction of driverless cars was divided, but 62% of respondents to the SmartWitness poll said they would feel less safe sharing the roads with driverless vehicles, and almost three-quarters raised concerns over complications in resolving insurance disputes in autonomous motoring accidents. These concerns saw 91% support the compulsory fitting of camera technology in driverless cars.
Initial driverless trials on UK roads are due to start next year, despite 52% of the 1,000 motorists surveyed by SmartWitness remaining opposed to the technology.
SmartWitness chief executive Paul Singh said: "It is incredibly exciting that Britain is taking the lead globally in the development of autonomous cars. But these new findings from the SmartWitness survey show that there are still real fears from ordinary motorists about what will happen if they are in a collision with an autonomous car. Around 40% of all motor insurance claims are disputed, but how do you resolve a dispute when you can only hear evidence from one of the drivers involved?
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