Joshua Bleiberg and Darrell M. West:
Driverless cars are coming sooner than you might think to a highway near you. California, Florida, and Michigan already allow driverless cars on the road for testing purposes and other states are considering more ambitious laws. But many are conflicted about this new advancement for the automobile. A new survey from Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak at the University of Michigan polled drivers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia on their opinions about driverless cars.
Americans were optimistic about the potential benefits of traveling in a driverless car. The survey found people believed automated cars would reduce the number and severity of crashes, improve response times from emergency workers, reduce traffic congestion, lower vehicle emissions, and decrease auto insurance premiums. Despite the belief that driverless cars have numerous advantages, many still reported trepidation about the new technology. About two thirds of Americans were moderately concerned or very concerned about driving or riding in a vehicle with self-driving technology.