New research shows the UK public are ‘open-minded’ about driverless technology

People living in the UK are highly familiar with the concept of driverless technology, but have not yet formed hardened opinions about the technology, according to a nationwide survey carried out on behalf of the UK Autodrive programme. See below for an infographic of their findings.

When asked how they would like to summon a self-driving vehicle if using one as a form of public transport, 45% of respondents said they would like to use a smartphone app, though calling one up from home (27%) or catching one at a bus stop (23%) were also popular options.

“For a technology that is not yet commercially available, it is striking that so many people have already heard about self-driving vehicles,” added Pat Langdon, Principal Research Associate at the University of Cambridge Engineering Design Centre. “There is obviously still plenty to be done in terms of educating the public – particularly when it comes to the potential benefits this technology could bring ­– but there is already lots of positivity in these initial findings.” 

Conducted by researchers at Cambridge University’s Engineering Department and the Department of Psychology, the online survey was completed by 2,850 UK residents.