Study Shows 56% Of British Drivers Would NEVER Buy A Computer Based Driverless Car

A quarter of British adults fear autonomous cars will be unsafe - and 56% would never buy a driverless car, it was claimed today.

The survey by Churchill Car Insurance reveals that entrenched attitudes in Great Britain put the new generation of autonomous cars at a disadvantage before they’ve even turned a wheel on British roads.

Google is leading the charge towards autonomous driving, but most major car manufacturers are also dabbling in driverless cars. The truth is, of course, that many of today’s driver aids are already piloting much of the technology, such as laser and radar cruise control, and safety cameras onboard many top-end cars.

The biggest concern British people questioned had was over the likelihood of computer failure. A nation raised on crashing PCs means that 60% of Brits worried that autonomous cars would not be reliable.

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leej - 7/28/2014 3:48:22 PM

+1 Boost

People once thought the telephone...and then the television, were from Satan himself (I dare say that some still do).

atc98092 - 7/28/2014 7:57:59 PM

+1 Boost

Have you seen most of what's on television today? LOL!

nikejk - 7/29/2014 5:05:44 PM

+2 Boost

Leej is right, if you took a poll in 2004 asking "Would YOU buy a handheld computer phone?" Most people would say no. Thats why technology eases into things. Every luxury vehicle right now has an option for adaptive cruise control, brake assist, park assist, lane departure warning etc. by 2020 many luxury vehicles and regular vehicles will be able to practically drive themselves on the interstate. Then before you know it, a full on driverless car won't seem so "crazy" and "ridiculous."

Trust me if people didn't believe this technology was going to take off, BMW, Volvo, Nissan, Cadillac, Audi, and every other major car maker plus tech companies like Google and GE would not be spending millions of dollars in research for this.

commander104 - 7/30/2014 10:02:59 AM

+1 Boost

Oh they'll buy em once they find out how much their gov't will take off of taxes and insurance. We're talking about a part of the world that takes efficiency seriously. They buy small cars with small engines both gas and lots of diesel and even have a hot Toyota Yaris hybrid. And seeing how lots of the world lives well with small cars--even trades people and families shows that we Americans have been marketed into big vehicles; i.e. my friend has a yaris manual and tows a trailer with it--he had to look at the Toyota canadian and european websites to find out how much it can tow since the Toyota America said not to tow with it so they can sell more SUVs.

DTMFan - 7/30/2014 12:03:12 PM

+1 Boost

Drive to the Pub, get completely hammered... and let the car drive you home.

I'm surprised more Brits aren't supporting it!