What Brits really think about self-driving cars

As the future of transportation shifts toward self-driving cars, the conversation about who should be allowed to operate these vehicles is heating up. Following the passing of the Automated Vehicle Act 2024, which aims to introduce fully autonomous cars to UK roads by 2026, we were eager to explore a key question: What do Brits really think about self-driving cars?

To find out, we surveyed people across the country - both drivers and non-drivers - to discover what people truly think about autonomous vehicles, whether they believe they are safe and, more importantly, who they think should be allowed to “drive” them.

Who’s safe behind the wheel?

One of the most striking findings is that many Brits see autonomous vehicles as a safe option, even for individuals who traditionally wouldn’t be allowed behind the wheel.

Self-driving technology opens new doors for people who were previously unable to drive, such as children, people with disabilities, and those who never passed their manual driving test. 

According to our survey, a staggering 3.3 million Brits (7%) believe that children under 16 should be allowed to operate self-driving cars once these cars hit UK roads.  One in seven (14%) are comfortable with visually impaired individuals taking control of autonomous vehicles and one in ten (9%) support the idea of individuals with no prior driving experience using driverless cars.

Source: Carmoola.co.uk 

Confidence in self-driving cars: A generational divide

While many people are optimistic about expanding transport access, confidence in the technology itself still has room to grow, as only a third (30%) of Brits confirmed their faith in self-driving cars fully taking over driving responsibilities from humans.

However, this scepticism varies by age. Younger generations are far more comfortable with the idea, with nearly half (48%) of 25-34-year-olds, and two fifths (40%) of 16-24-year-olds expressing trust in autonomous technology. In contrast, only a fifth (16%) of those over 55, and a quarter (27%) of 24-54-year-olds share this confidence.

Regional Insights: Which regions are ‘driving’ the future?

Opinions on self-driving cars were also found to vary across regions. Londoners are at the forefront, with nearly half (45%) expressing confidence in autonomous vehicles becoming a common sight on UK roads, with Wales (33%) and the East Midlands (32%) closely following in their beliefs. 

At a city level, the City of London continues to show strong support, with more than a third (38%) of people optimistic about the future of self-driving cars. However, cities like Glasgow and Southampton are less enthusiastic, with as many as 80% of residents unsure about the ability of autonomous cars to take over driving responsibilities.

Source: Carmoola.co.uk 

The road ahead

As the countdown to 2026 continues, the debate over who should be allowed to "drive" self-driving cars is just beginning. While there is hesitation among the public, particularly regarding safety and control, the conversation about who should legally be allowed to operate autonomous vehicles remains far from settled.

There are still many regulations yet to be established. But with the Automated Vehicle Act 2024 now in place, self-driving cars will soon be on UK roads, so the only question left is: Will you be getting one?