Survey Reveals Majority of Americans Remain Cautious of Self-Driving Cars,While Interest in Advanced Safety Features Grows

WALNUT CREEK (March 14, 2024) -  Most Americans remain uncertain of self-driving cars, but a new AAA survey found some vehicle technologies offering semi-autonomous capabilities are finding wider acceptance.

AAA revealed that 66 percent of U.S. drivers were “fearful” of self-driving cars, while 25 percent were “uncertain.” Only 9 percent trusted self-driving cars enough to be a passenger. And while fully autonomous vehicles are not commercially available, nearly one in ten drivers (8 percent) believe they are available for purchase and can drive while they sleep.“Education and transparency are key as we move towards a future where safety and innovation converge,” AAA Northern California spokesperson John Treanor said. 

The survey also revealed a growing interest in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), with U.S. drivers indicating interest in most of these systems:

• Automatic Emergency Braking (63%)
• Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking (62%)
• Lane Keeping Assistance (58%)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (55%)
• Active Driving Assistance (46%)

“These technologies are meant to aid drivers, not replace them. The promise in enhancing road safety can only be realized when drivers know how, when and where to use these systems properly. AAA has been at the forefront of educating drivers and will continue to work with manufacturers and policy makers to give drivers the resources to make the most of these features,” Treanor said. 

Methodology 

The survey was conducted January 11-16, 2024, using a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. household population overall. The panel provides sample coverage of approximately 97% of the U.S. household population. Most surveys were completed online; consumers without Internet access were surveyed over the phone. 

A total of 1,220 interviews were completed among U.S. adults, 18 years of age or older, of which 1,010 qualified for the study. The margin of error for the study overall is 4.1% at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups have larger error margins.

About AAA Northern California

AAA has a proud history of serving Members for over 100 years. AAA is on a mission to create Members for life by unleashing the innovative spirit of 5,300 employees representing 6 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. In addition to legendary roadside assistance, AAA offers home, auto, and life insurance, travel, and home security services. Learn more at AAA.com.