Contrary to popular belief, a recent survey conducted by AAA revealed that most people do not want self-driving cars.
The survey indicated the majority of the public is not confident in the safety capabilities of self-driving vehicles, otherwise known as autonomous vehicles.
This sentiment may be appropriate, as one of Google’s self-driving cars crashed into a bus last month.
According to a report filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a Google 2012 Lexus RX450h was being driven in autonomous mode when it encountered a tricky traffic situation and collided with a public bus.
The autonomous vehicle was attempting to make a right turn at a stoplight but could not because of sandbags blocking its path. When the light turned green, the driverless car determined it had time to move in front of a bus to center itself in the lane. It did not have enough time and hit the side of the bus instead.
The Google-owned Lexus was going two miles per hour while the bus was traveling at 15 miles per hour. No one was injured, but there was damage to the Google vehicle. This accident seems to reinforce people’s fears about self-driving cars.
In the AAA survey, 75 percent of respondents said they would be afraid to ride in an autonomous car. Forty percent of respondents stated they would be hesitant to use the latest technology necessary to travel in a self-driving car, like automatic emergency braking. Issues such as insurance and liability are also concerning to the general public.
Features such as lane-keeping help, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking are currently available on many new car models. However, the public’s hesitance to welcome the new technology may put the brake on self-driving cars’ momentum.
Despite survey respondents’ reluctance to accept the new technology, owners of vehicles that currently use the latest technology tend to endorse self-driving vehicles.
If you have been injured due to a negligent driver, reach out to the Cincinnati auto accident lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy today to learn about your legal options. You may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney at our firm can help to review the details of your claim and determine if you have a case.