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

  • Big data analytics identifies congestion increases
    November 26, 2014
    Iteris has completed and published the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) 2014 Level of Service Monitoring Report. The report was generated for speed-based congestion monitoring, utilising big data analytics in place of conventional in-field manual data collection for 205 miles of the 327 mile network. Use of big data analytics will be expanded in future monitoring cycles. Many agencies conduct congestion monitoring through manual data collection efforts. Agencies traditionally us
  • ITS technology reduces congestion, improves workzone safety
    July 17, 2012
    As the road-building season gets under way in the US, the Federal Highway Administration has just published a White Paper which deals with the use of ITS technology in work zones. On 30 April 2009, the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a White Paper which was prepared by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to inform public agencies about the use of ITS to manage construction work zones. This is a particularly relevant topic given the large number of construction projects that are ex
  • TRL: Cities must do more to help VRUs
    May 9, 2019
    UK cities must learn from the Netherlands and Denmark if active travel and increased safety for vulnerable road users are to co-exist, says TRL’s Marcus Jones Active travel’ refers to modes of transport in which physical effort is required to undertake purposeful journeys - for example, walking or cycling to school, work or the local shops, as well as walking and standing as part of accessing public transport. The benefits of replacing short car journeys with more active forms of transport are obvious. Act
  • RAC report - motorists frustrated with road taxes
    June 13, 2013
    According to the RAC’s 2013 Report on Motoring, the condition of the UK’s motorways and local roads, characterised by the now year-round problem of potholes, ranks as a top concern for motorists. While the cost of driving is understandably still the number one concern for nearly half (46 per cent) of Britain’s motorists, two in five (41 per cent) say maintenance of local roads and motorways is their top spending priority. In addition, 84 per cent of motorists believe their local roads are deteriorating and