Fear of Self-Driving Cars Persists as Industry Faces Uncertain Future

Most U.S. drivers are still either afraid or uneasy about the idea of fully self-driving vehicles.

According to a new AAA survey, 66 percent of drivers expressed fear about fully self-driving vehicles, while 25 percent were uncertain. This sentiment has not decreased since spiking last year.

"People’s fears are mostly driven by well-publicized incidents where drivers lost their lives in car crashes because they believed their vehicle could drive itself,” said Gene LaDoucer, regional director of public affairs, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “While there’s no vehicle on the road today that can safely drive itself, there are vehicle technologies that can improve safety, as long as the driver remains fully engaged while behind the wheel.”

Despite people’s fears of self-driving cars, interest in advanced driver assistance systems remains high. AAA's survey found that almost two-thirds of U.S. drivers would want Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking (65%), Automatic Emergency Braking (63%), or Lane Keeping Assistance (62%) on their next vehicle.

While these safety technologies have proven effective, they are not fool proof. Interestingly, most U.S. drivers also believe Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) will stop the vehicle when another car, children, adult pedestrians, or bicyclists are in front of or behind the vehicle. However, recent AAA research found that Reverse AEB systems prevented a collision in only 1 of 40 test runs in scenarios involving a subject vehicle crossing behind the test vehicle and only 10 out of 20 test runs with a stationary child target behind the test vehicle.

AAA believes that to alleviate consumer concerns, ADAS performance should reflect reasonable and safe scenarios with a clear understanding of the limitations. Advanced vehicle safety technology should enhance driver awareness rather than give the impression of replacing a vigilant driver. When asked if there are cars available that drive themselves while you sleep - fully self-driving vehicles are not yet available for purchase by consumers - four in ten drivers are unsure or think they can buy a car that drives itself while they sleep, a significant safety concern of these technologies.

AAA Resources:

• ADAS Repair Costs: Fixing Advanced Vehicle Systems Makes Up Over One-Third of Repair Costs Following a Crash.  
• AAA Approved ADAS Technicians: AAA Approved Auto Repair Shop Locator
• Clearing Up the Confusion: Provides naming and descriptions of ADAS in a consistent, easy-to-understand manner. 

Methodology

The survey was conducted January 11-16, 2024, using a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. household population overall. The panel provides sample coverage of approximately 97% of the U.S. household population. Most surveys were completed online; consumers without Internet access were surveyed over the phone.

A total of 1,220 interviews were completed among U.S. adults, 18 years of age or older, of which 1,010 qualified for the study. The margin of error for the study overall is 4.1% at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups have larger error margins.

About AAA 

Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, and financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of over 64 million members across North America, including over 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA offers or become a member, visit AAA.com.