While most engineers are keen to see driverless technology progress, the answers here reveal doubt as to whether such advancement will lead to significant job opportunities in the medium term. Many No responders said ‘medium term’ was too optimistic, while others said electronics and software engineers were likely to benefit the most.
Yes: 40% No: 42% Don't know: 17%
3. Do you think that fully autonomous cars will be in use in UK city centres within the next decade?
It is clear that while engineers think there will be lots of progress on driverless vehicles over the coming years, the majority think that there will be too many hurdles to overcome to see widespread adoption of the technology within the next decade. Firstly all the sensors and systems have to be proved and proved again. And then there are regulatory hurdles to jump. So a resounding No vote.
Yes: 17%
No: 75%
Don't know: 8%
4. Can you conceive of a time when you would be happy to fully relinquish the controls of your car in an urban environment?
The answers were split down the middle here. Those that welcome the development of autonomous vehicles said they could see the future and would embrace the technology. The No votes were equally vehement, with phrases like ‘you must be joking’ and ‘never in a million years’ being used.
Yes: 44%
No: 48%
Don't know: 8%
5. Can you see a time when you would relinquish car controls to travel in an automated ‘platoon’ on a motorway?
There was a much stronger Yes vote here than with the previous question. Engineers think that it will be easier to develop driverless technology for straight-line, continuous speed travel on motorways, rather than for the twists and turns encountered in an urban setting. Many said they liked the idea of platooning, as it would free up valuable time to do other things.
Yes: 72%
No: 23%
Don't know: 5%
6. If full autonomous technology was available, would a premium of, say, £2,000 on a new car be an acceptable cost?
There has been relatively little discussion about how much car-buyers would be prepared to pay for autonomous systems. We admittedly plucked a figure out of the air – a £2,000 premium on a standard new car. Almost two-thirds of our readers said that was an acceptable amount. But plenty said that they felt that driverless technology would actually cost a hell of a lot more.
Yes: 64%
No: 27%
Don't know: 9%
7. Do you think that autonomous vehicles can ever be safer than those driven by humans?
Despite the inevitable hype about driverless cars, most of our readers can clearly see the potential safety benefits that such technology can bring. Lots of respondents said that with constant refinement, there was no doubt that autonomous vehicles could be safer than humans. One reader said the biggest problem with cars at the moment is the ‘nut behind the wheel’
Yes: 76%
No: 11%
Don't know: 13%
8. Will autonomous cars take away the fun and enjoyment of driving?
Driverless technology might be welcomed by most readers, but almost four-fifths of those who responded said that the adoption of such technology would take the fun and enjoyment away from driving. PE would appear to have quite a few classic car owners among its readers, and this sub-set were particularly wary of seeing good old-fashioned manual cars replaced by robots.
Yes: 79%
No: 16%
Don't know: 5%
Would you like to participate in the PE Reader surveys?
If so send us an email to pesurveys@caspianmedia.com with the words Panel Member in the message box and we will add you to future correspondence.