While self-driving cars are far from becoming an everyday reality, automakers are worried about the public’s ideas regarding them. A January 2020 survey from AAA found that an overwhelming majority of U.S. adults are uneasy about self-driving cars. New Jersey residents should know that only 12% of respondents said they would feel safe in one. Moreover, 28% said they don’t know what to think about such cars.
Most respondents wanted more public information and news items on self-driving cars. Fifty-seven percent, for example, said they want a clear understanding of who would be held liable in a crash with a self-driving car. Fifty-one percent wondered what laws would make the cars safer while 49% expressed concern about the cars being hacked.
The survey found that certain factors could go a long way to assure consumers. Seventy-two percent said that if they could take control of a self-driving car when something goes wrong, they would feel safer. The presence of a human back-up driver was what 69% of respondents said they’d want in order to feel safer.
For 47%, the knowledge that a self-driving car had passed rigorous testing and inspections would make people feel safer. Lastly, 42% responded that they would feel safe if they saw or participated in a demonstration with a self-driving car.
Some car crashes involve semi-autonomous vehicles, so it’s obvious that the systems need to have the flaws worked out before automakers and drivers progress to fully automated tech. Studies show that semi-autonomous vehicle tech can indirectly cause inattention and distraction in drivers who don’t know its limitations. Those who are injured at the hands of such a negligent driver may want to talk with a lawyer because there are complex issues that need to be addressed before they can seek a settlement.