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Are You Ready to Share the Road With Self-driving Cars?

A recent report from AAA says the majority of Americans are not

Self-driving cars may be the wave of the future, and we know that first hand with a local company testing these vehicles right here in Boston. But that doesn’t mean drivers like the idea of sharing the road with them.

While the majority of U.S. drivers want autonomous technologies in their next car, more than three quarters of Americans are afraid to ride in a self-driving car, according to a new report from AAA.

This is the second research study conducted by AAA. The organization says the comprehensive surveys are conducted to help understand consumer fears toward self-driving cars, as well as their trust in technologies available in today’s vehicles.

The report found that despite the likelihood that autonomous vehicles will be safer, more efficient and more convenient than cars of today, three quarters of U.S. drivers feel afraid to drive in one. Only 10 percent said they would feel safer sharing the roads with driverless vehicles.

Those fears aren’t new. A 2016 AAA survey found that three quarters of Americans felt afraid to ride in a self-driving car, showing the data remained unchanged one year later.

“U.S. drivers may experience the driver assistance technologies in their cars today and feel they don’t work consistently enough to replace a human driver – and they’re correct,” said AAA’s Senior Manager of Traffic Safety John Paul in a statement issued this week. “While these technologies will continue to improve over time, it’s important that consumers understand that today’s systems require your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.”

The 2017 survey also found 59 percent of Americans are excited to have autonomous features in their next vehicle, suggesting drivers are ready to embrace the technology, but not ready to give up full control.

Other findings included:

  • Fifty-four percent of drivers feel less safe about sharing the road with a self-driving car, while 34 percent feel it wouldn’t make a difference. Ten percent say they would feel safer.
  • Women (58 percent) are more likely to feel less safe than men (49 percent).
  • The majority of drivers (59 percent) want autonomous vehicle technology in their next vehicle, while the remainder do not (25 percent) or are unsure (16 percent).

AAA says it will continue unbiased testing of automated vehicle technologies. Previous testing as included: automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, self-parking technology and lane keeping systems. The company says future testing will look at how well systems work together to achieve high levels of automation, due to concerns from consumers.

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