British motorists overwhelmingly reject self-driving and AI vehicles despite road safety benefits
Less than one-third of motorists are in favour of self-driving vehicles on British roads
PA
Only three in 10 British motorists are in favour of having self-driving vehicles on UK roads, despite optimism that they could be seen on streets as soon as 2026.
Earlier this year, the Government passed the Automated Vehicles Act after receiving Royal Assent to give the green light to self-driving vehicles and roll them out onto British roads within a few years.
It is said that this could create over 38,000 new jobs and revolutionise the travel sector with a massive boost of £42billion, as well as making streets safer for all road users.
Law changes will see self-driving vehicles achieve a level of safety which would see them have similar competency to human drivers.
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The self-driving vehicle industry could be worth £42billion by 2035
PAHowever, new research has found that the majority of Britons do not want to see self-driving vehicles on the road in the future.
Just 30 per cent of people - 37 per cent of males and 24 per cent of females - support the rollout of autonomous vehicle technology.
The survey participants were also asked about their own habits behind the wheel and how they could be cut out if self-driving vehicles were rolled out.
This includes being impatient (31 per cent), being distracted (28 per cent) and exceeding the speed limit (25 per cent).
Simon Staton, client management director for Venson Automotive Solutions, said there was hesitancy among drivers to see autonomous vehicles, despite the road safety benefits they could deliver.
He said: "It is perhaps unsurprising that the tech-native generations are the most receptive to artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, but there is still a long way to go before all age groups are confident in the safety and wider benefits of self-driving vehicles.
"Of course, many vehicles on the road today already include semi-autonomous driver assistance features, but it seems that many feel it is too big a leap from lane assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking to sitting back with a book while the car takes full control.”
In general, younger people between the ages of 18 and 44 were more in favour of seeing self-driving vehicles on the road, compared to just 16 per cent for those over the age of 45.
There have already been extensive trials of self-driving vehicles on roads, as evidenced by British brands Wayve and Oxa trialling the cars in London and Oxford.
Between 2018 and 2022, the UK self-driving vehicle sector generated £475million of direct investment, with this number expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades.
The Automated Vehicles Act sets out who is liable for the technology, with the Government clarifying that motorists cannot be held responsible for how the vehicle drivers when it is in an automated setting.
For the first time, insurance providers, software developers and automotive manufacturers can assume the responsibility when in self-driving mode.
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Self-driving vehicles could be seen on the road by 2026
GETTYStaton concluded, saying: “If AI was in control of the vehicle, none of the potentially dangerous driving habits our respondents confessed to would pose a risk, so we should see safety improve in line with the rising number of autonomous vehicles from 2026.
"In the meantime, drivers must always be in full control of their vehicle, even if it does feature an extensive list of advanced driver assistance systems.
"While many company car drivers may shy away from switching to autonomous as soon as they become legal, acceptance will grow rapidly, and many will be keen to explore the options."