A convincing majority of Individuals stay “afraid” to journey in self-driving autos, in keeping with a survey launched immediately by AAA.
A January survey of 1,095 individuals discovered that 61 % don’t belief self-driving autos (that survey query didn’t differentiate between semi-autonomous automobiles, like some Tesla fashions, and totally autonomous automobiles, like Waymo robotaxis). Conversely, 13 % belief self-driving autos and 26 % are not sure of their security.
Whereas the share of those that stay terrified of self-driving autos dropped from final yr’s findings, which was 66 %, 2025’s outcomes characterize a 7 % enhance in these afraid of utilizing the know-how from when AAA’s first self-driving survey was performed in 2021.
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AAA additionally queried its panel particularly on robotaxis, discovering that 74 % knew that self-driving rideshare automobiles had been out there in sure cities, but 53 % mentioned they might not journey in a single. Whereas Millennial and Technology X drivers had been extra receptive to robotaxis than Child Boomers, majorities of the youthful generations nonetheless mentioned they wouldn’t journey in such a car.
The event of self-driving autos was not a precedence for respondents; extra individuals wished investments in car security techniques fairly than increasing entry to autonomous autos. In accordance with AAA’s survey, the general public’s curiosity in self-driving autos has decreased from 18 % in 2022 to 13 % this yr.
“Most drivers need automakers to deal with superior security know-how,” Greg Brannon, the automotive engineering director at AAA, mentioned in a press release. “Although opinions on totally self-driving automobiles fluctuate extensively, its evident that immediately’s drivers worth options that improve their security.”
Whereas drivers stay skeptical of autonomous autos, many expressed a need for self-driving know-how like computerized emergency braking, reverse computerized emergency braking, and lane protecting help. In its announcement on the survey outcomes, AAA reiterated its name for much less complicated naming of the aforementioned autonomous know-how.
