Video: Who Envisions a Future with Self-Driving Cars?
Google's new self-driving prototype car is presented during a demonstration at the Google campus in Mountain View, Calif. Tony Avelar/AP File Photo
Not everyone is excited about a driverless future.
Some enthusiasts (like Nextgov's editor) are already embracing self-driving vehicles, while others are not quite as ready to let go of the steering wheel.
A love of driving and a mistrust of computers have soured attitudes toward self-driving vehicles, and carmakers and regulators need to pay attention to this common reluctance.
Recently, University of Michigan researchers conducted a survey of 505 U.S. drivers and discovered that roughly 40 percent are not comfortable with any automation in their vehicle, while another 40 percent said they are OK with some automation. Only around 15 percent are comfortable with complete automation in their car.
The biggest naysayers are drivers over the age of 60.
All demographics, however, want carmakers to keep the traditional steering wheel and pedals in self-driving cars, even fully autonomous ones.
Another debate the researchers tackled was whether users wanted to interact with their self-driving car via voice-command or touch screen. That will be an important aspect of the next-generation autonomous vehicles, but people first need to be on board with the self-driving car.
To learn more, check out the video below from CNET: