Survey finds American motorists have become less wary of self-driving cars

One question that remains as automakers continue working on autonomous vehicles is whether drivers trust them enough to surrender control.

Self-driving cars hold the promise of a safer, more convenient future, and American drivers seem to be gradually embracing this technology. In a recent AAA survey, about two-thirds of drivers said they would feel afraid to ride in a self-driving car; this is a sizable drop from the three-quarters of drivers who felt that way a year ago. The survey also found that about half of drivers want autonomous tech in their next vehicle, and that drivers who already have such features are more likely to feel safe in a self-driving car.

There was a moderate gender gap in respondents: 73% of women said they'd feel afraid to ride in a self-driving car, compared to 52% of men. Split by age, 68% of baby boomers and 70% of Generation X said they’d be afraid, in contrast to 49% of millennials surveyed.

This question revealed a smaller gender gap: 55% of women said they'd feel less safe sharing the road with self-driving cars, more than the 36% of men. There was a larger generational split, though, as 54% of baby boomers and 47% of Gen Xers would feel less safe, versus only 34% of millennials.

Key takeaways from the survey