Skip to main content

Three-quarters of UK drivers ‘don’t want a driverless car’

This week the government announced plans to put US$31 million into the research of driverless cars. Thanks to this funding, autonomous cars are set to be trialled in the UK by the end of the year. With this in mind, independent vehicle supply group OSV carried out a survey to find out if they wanted driverless cars. Surveys were previously carried out when the conception of autonomous cars was first released. OSV wanted to know if opinions about driverless cars have changed now the research has develope
July 31, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
This week the government announced plans to put US$31 million into the research of driverless cars. Thanks to this funding, autonomous cars are set to be trialled in the UK by the end of the year.
 
With this in mind, independent vehicle supply group OSV carried out a survey to find out if they wanted driverless cars. Surveys were previously carried out when the conception of autonomous cars was first released. OSV wanted to know if opinions about driverless cars have changed now the research has developed.

The results were overwhelming; 75% per cent of the UK population said they did not want an autonomous car. People from England are even more against driverless cars, with 82 per cent saying they wouldn’t want one. People from Scotland are slightly keener than other countries in the UK with 26 per cent admitting they would want a driverless car.

Interestingly, men are more drawn to driverless cars than women, with 30 per cent of those surveyed stating that they would like one.  Only 19 per cent of females would like an autonomous car.

According to OSV, this contradicts other research which suggests women have the most to gain. Those with driverless cars will not need a driving license and with more women than men without licenses, women therefore will benefit the most.

Another insight from the survey found that 43 per cent of 18-25 year olds would want to buy an autonomous car. At the other end of the spectrum only 10 per cent of 55-64 year olds shared the same interest. Surprisingly, that figure rose to 27 per cent for the over 65s, which OSV says shows that the youngest and eldest age groups are the most interested in the driverless car revolution.

Related Content

  • Survey outlines predictions for public transport by 2025
    January 22, 2016
    A new survey from Xerox underscores the desire for self-driving cars and smart digital services like integrated apps and cashless payment by Europe’s Generation Z (those aged 18-24 years old). The study was conducted by TNS on behalf of Xerox between 5 and 26 October 2015 among 1,200 respondents in 12 cities across the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. It revealed that by 2025, a third (32 per cent) of 18-24 year olds expect to be using self-driving cars, four in ten (41 per cent) say they w
  • Parking provision dictates commuters’ modal choice
    March 16, 2016
    Researchers from two American Universities have found the provision of parking spaces can encourage automobile use and increase traffic congestion. It is well understood that increased automobile use is linked to congestion, environmental degradation and negative health and safety impacts. Trials of smart parking technology has shown a reduction in circulating traffic (looking for parking) can ease congestion and that the cost of parking can influence commuters’ modal choice. Now, researchers at the univers
  • The UK’s busiest crossing adopts free flow charging
    April 30, 2015
    Colin Sowman looks at the transition to free-flow charging on the Dartford Crossing, a notorious congestion blackspot on the UK motorway network. The Dartford Crossing, where London’s orbital M25 motorway crosses the lower reaches of the River Thames 32km (20 miles) to the east of Central London, has long been a major source of congestion. Now, to alleviate the congestion caused by some 50 million crossings per year, the Highways Agency has adopted a free-flow charging system - but the Crossing’s location a
  • Timing is everything for EV charging
    January 23, 2020
    Electric vehicles are often promoted as a more sustainable alternative to diesel and petrol cars - but their arrival raises concerns about the strain which charging will put on the grid.