New U.K. research reveals concern about driverless cars

In a study conducted in the U.K. by leading vehicle history check and valuation specialists HPI, it is revealed that just over half of motorists (57%) are concerned about the feeling of not being in control of self-driving cars.

In May 2024, the Automated Vehicles act (AV act) was passed into law, providing the legal framework for driverless cars to operate on U.K. roads. This act sets out all the safety standards, data security, and insurance requirements, and could see driverless car operational as early as 2026.

The poll, which included the views of over 2,000 adults, also found that the next biggest area of concern for under half of the drivers (49%) was the behaviour of other road users, and that women (60%) are slightly more concerned about not feeling in complete control than men (55%).

A third of motorists (37%) are concerned about how driverless cars interact, and a third (35%) worry about their lack of confidence in using the technology, with faults and breakdowns on the minds of three in ten (35%). Similarly, 35% of them have trust issues with driverless cars.

34% are also deterred by the cost of a driverless car, assuming they’re more expensive, with one in five (20%) taking issue with not being able to drive how they would like. Meanwhile, sticking to speed limits is a worry for less than one in ten (9%).

Additionally, trust levels in driverless cars are higher among younger drivers aged 18-years old to 26-years old (26%) than they are among drivers aged 55-years old to 64-years old (13%) and over 65-years old (10%).