State Farm conducted a survey to examine drivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and potential behaviors regarding autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles.
The survey asked drivers how much more, or less, likely they would be to engage in certain behaviors when a semi-autonomous vehicle is driving itself compared to when they are driving the vehicle. Knowing that there may be circumstances where the driver may need to take over control a semi-autonomous car, survey respondents said they would more likely be:
- Eating – 48 percent.
- Reading texts – 45 percent.
- Sending texts – 43 percent.
- Taking pictures – 36 percent.
- Accessing the internet – 36 percent.
- Tending to children – 32 percent.
- Recording videos – 26 percent.
- Watching movies – 21 percent.
- Reading a book – 19 percent.
The survey findings were released during a presentation at the annual meeting of the Governors Highway Safety Association. “Drivers need to be aware that there may be unexpected and critical situations when they will need to be in full control of their semi-autonomous car,” said presenter Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm. “This survey shows that people want to do things other than drive during their trips; there is a need for education so that consumers understand the capabilities and potential limitations of their automated systems, and what’s required of the driver.”
Regardless of whether respondents were drivers, passengers, or simply sharing the road with others, few were comfortable with vehicles driving themselves. Less than one in ten respondents reported being “very comfortable” with allowing their vehicle to drive itself, whether as a driver or a passenger. Similarly, only one in ten respondents reported being “very comfortable” with sharing the road with
other vehicles that are driving themselves.
Additional findings: more awareness and more confidence in technology.
The survery was first given in 2013. Compared to three years ago, considerably more drivers have heard of self-driving vehicles. And though they did not show an increased interest in purchasing a fully automated car, compared to three years ago consumers are more confident in the ability of self-driving cars to navigate safely on their own.
Although wide use of autonomous vehicles is years away, cars with some automated features are already available, and most survey respondents are knowledgeable about those features.
Consumers most want automated backup assistance and drowsy driving detection.
Respondents were provided with a description of technologies that included backup assistance, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlights, lane departure assistance, automated braking and drowsy driver detection. While they were at least somewhat familiar with them all, the features they were most interested in were backup assistance and drowsy driving detection.
They see that vehicle-to-vehicle technology can improve safety.
Vehicle-to-vehicle technology allows the car to communicate with other nearby vehicles. Roughly half of respondents think vehicle-to-vehicle technology would be useful in increasing safety and would be interested in having a car with this technology.
In September 2013 and June 2016, the State Farm Strategic Resources Department used an outside panel vendor to conduct an online survey of U.S. consumers ages 18+. Survey responses were received from approximately 1,000 consumers each year, who identified themselves as having some insurance and financial responsibility for their household. Of the total respondents, only those who reported having a valid driver’s license were used in the analyses in this report.