Thatcham's 'Trust in Automation' consumer study – compiled from data gathered earlier this year by Opinion Matters from a sample of 4,000 car owners (2,000 in the UK, 2,000 in the US) – has revealed that just over half of UK drivers think that they can buy a fully autonomous car today.
The survey framed the 'fully autonomous' question by asking respondents if they thought it was possible to purchase a car today that can drive itself, where by ‘drive itself’ this meant a car with technology that can drive the car completely autonomously, as safely as a competent human driver would, and which allows the driver to remove their hands from the steering wheel.
However, only 'assisted driving' systems, which require driver support, are currently available in the UK.
“Realising the government’s stated safety ambition for automated vehicles is dependent on driver education,” said Matthew Avery, chief strategic research officer, Thatcham...