Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
4. Americans cautious about the deployment of driverless cars
A slight majority of Americans are concerned that the government won’t go far enough in regulating driverless cars, but views are highly partisan
Embed
Infographic Gallery
- 4. Americans cautious about the deployment of driverless cars
- Americans more likely to say the widespread use of driverless cars would be bad rather than good for society
- Majority of Americans say they wouldn’t want to ride in a driverless vehicle, but men, adults under 50 and those with a college degree are more open to the idea
- About one-in-five Americans say they’d be extremely or very comfortable sharing the road with driverless cars
- Men, younger adults and those who have heard a lot about driverless cars more likely to say they would be good for society
- Most say the widespread use of driverless cars would result in job loss, system hacking; still, a majority sees benefits for older adults, those with disabilities
- Fewer than one-in-ten adults say driverless vehicles will decrease income gaps among Americans
- Americans somewhat divided on impact of driverless vehicles on injuries, deaths from traffic accidents
- Public more likely to prioritize saving those inside rather than outside of a driverless car, but many are unsure
- Strong public support for driverless cars to have higher testing standards than regular vehicles
- A majority of Americans say companies that design driverless cars should play a major role in setting standards for them
- A slight majority of Americans are concerned that the government won’t go far enough in regulating driverless cars, but views are highly partisan
- Driverless cars seen as more acceptable if there were regular reports on accidents, cars clearly labeled
- About four-in-ten Americans favor using driverless technology for delivery vehicles and taxis, but fewer support self-driving 18-wheelers