Americans believe they can snooze while they cruise

An annual survey on autonomous, or self-driving, vehicles has found that Americans’ fear of these vehicles has risen by 13%.

Roberto nickson Ddjl0 Cicdr4 unsplash

In 2022, 55% of participants in the survey said they were wary of autonomous vehicles, but according to the just-released edition of the survey, 68% of the roughly 1000 people interviewed now say they are apprehensive of the technology. This is the biggest jump since 2020.

The results should be a wake-up call for automakers and autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo and Cruise.

“We were not expecting such a dramatic decline in trust from previous years," said Greg Brannon, director of automotive research for AAA. "Although with the number of high-profile crashes that has occurred from over-reliance on current vehicle technologies, this isn't entirely surprising."

Another misconception that the survey revealed is that one in ten Americans were under the impression that they could take a nap while the vehicle drives itself. This is further exacerbated by the names automakers give the self-driving systems such as Tesla’s “Autopilot” and “Full self-driving”.

Good news was that six out of ten Americans said they would “definitely” or “probably” want these systems in their next vehicle purchase.

The survey comprised of 1,140 interviews with US adults aged 18 and over, and 949 individuals qualified for the study, which was done via phone from January 13 to 17, 2023. The study's margin of error was 4.3% at a 95% confidence level.

More Industry News stories

Stellantis doubles down on smarter cars with Qualcomm partnership

Stellantis doubles down on smarter cars with Qualcomm partnership

Stellantis is accelerating its push into software defined vehicles through an expanded partnership with Qualcomm Technologies that will bring more advanced driver assistance, connectivity and in car digital systems to its next generation vehicles.

  • 26 May 2026
Dealer ordered to withdraw advert after ARB ruling

Dealer ordered to withdraw advert after ARB ruling

A South African dealership has been instructed to remove or amend an advertisement for a new Jetour T2 after the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruled that the listing created the impression that a specific vehicle was immediately available for purchase when it was not.

  • 25 May 2026
South Africa’s AJ Venter taming the untameable

South Africa’s AJ Venter taming the untameable

If you were hoping to experience the roaring streets of the Isle of Man TT in 2026, you are already too late. This event, with practice sessions starting on 25 May 2026 and racing commencing on the 30th, requires at least six to twelve months of planning, along with a substantial budget.

  • 25 May 2026