Driver assistance tech, alternative fuels found to be more desirable in short-term
Fewer drivers deem fully autonomous vehicles a realistic option in the short term, but see the benefits of driver assistance features, connectivity and alternative propulsion, in a survey conducted by tollway network Eastlink.
The 2018 Annual Victorian Self-Driving Car Survey had 18,010 respondents (compared to 15,047 in 2017).
The main takeaway was that interest in fully self-driving vehicles had waned compared to last year, but a more gradual uptake of driver and power technologies to improve efficiency was desired, along with a view that fuel tax should be replaced by a per-kilometre system.
Key findings included:
- Fewer people want their next vehicle to be fully self-driving vehicles on all roads
- More drivers want (or already use) semi-automated driver assistance features like lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking
- A majority of drivers want their vehicle to be connected to a data network for traffic warnings, road condition warnings and vehicle security features
- Interest in hybrid and fully electric cars has increased further, with hybrid power now rivalling traditional petrol combustion engines
- More drivers think fuel tax should be replaced by a per-kilometre road use charge, and more motorists think it’s unfair that electric vehicles avoid fuel tax.
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One reason the interest may be decreasing is a significant proportion of drivers expect fully self-driving vehicles to be absolutely 100 per cent safe “with no possibility of ever being involved in a collision”, Eastlink says, “even though this is an unrealistic expectation”.
“Eight in ten motorists would travel as a passenger in a fully self-driving car where the vehicle has a driver who is monitoring and able to take over control.
“However, the majority of motorists would not yet travel as a passenger in a fully self-driving car where the vehicle is completely driver-less and there are no driving controls.”
EastLink corporate affairs and marketing manager Doug Spencer-Roy concludes: “This reduction in desirability for fully self-driving vehicles indicates that expectations had become over-inflated by hype, and people are now becoming more realistic.”