Skip to main content

ADVI research shows most Australians want self-driving cars

Seventy per cent of Australians want a self-driving car able to take over when they feel tired or bored, according to new research by the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI), announced at this week’s ITS World Congress. In addition, just under three quarters (73%) of Australians would like an autonomous vehicle to transport them when they feel physically or mentally unable to drive manually. The survey, of 5,000 Australians aged over 18, is the first comprehensive national study of the Aus
October 12, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
South Australian transport and infrastructure minister Stephen Mullighan on the Advi stand
Seventy per cent of Australians want a self-driving car able to take over when they feel tired or bored, according to new research by the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI), announced at this week’s 6456 ITS World Congress.

In addition, just under three quarters (73%) of Australians would like an autonomous vehicle to transport them when they feel physically or mentally unable to drive manually.

The survey, of 5,000 Australians aged over 18, is the first comprehensive national study of the Australian public's attitude toward driverless vehicles.

“Given the lack of community interaction with self-driving cars to date, it's encouraging that almost half (47%) of the Australian population believe they will be safer than humans,” said professor Michael Regan of the Australian Road Research Board.

Regan added that a quarter disagree driverless cars will be safer, and a quarter remain undecided, highlighting the importance of continued community education to communicate the safety benefits.

Interestingly, the research also found that more than half (62%) of Australians do not think autonomous technology should increase the cost of a vehicle.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Smart mobility on the rise, says ABI Research
    May 10, 2016
    As extreme pollution and congestion in urban areas coupled with limited transportation options continues to challenge major cities across the globe, market intelligence firm ABI Research, predicts an imminent rise in smart electric mobility. Data analysis forecasts global electric vehicle revenue will hit US$58 billion in 2021, more than five times its market value in 2015. "The role of vehicle electrification in urban areas is part of a broader smart mobility model that includes shared vehicles, chargi
  • Survey finds van drivers optimistic about new technology
    April 20, 2017
    A new survey from UK insurance website Gocompare.com Van Insurance asked van drivers what they think of the new technology that might affect their business. Safety was a concern when it came to new technology. Over 50 per cent of respondents said they thought futuristic technology might provide a safety risk. This was of particular concern to drivers in both Belfast and Norwich – with 71 per cent of the respondents in those cities naming it as an issue for them. The next most worrying factor for drivers was
  • ITS can only progress at the speed of public acceptance
    May 24, 2013
    The ITS sector is one of the younger and more dynamic industries in the economy and I am lucky enough to take the helm of ITS International at a point where the industry is in one of its most interesting phases. The technology is both established enough to show proven results and yet young enough to not fully know what the end game will be. It does not have the uniformity usually seen in older industries, while at the same time the bene ts are there – even if they are not always immediately evident to poli
  • Elon Musk’s underground movement
    August 3, 2020
    The Boring Company is building tunnels under various US cities – but for what? Kristina Smith delves deep into a project which may (eventually) have real appeal for mass transit providers and transportation agencies