AAA Poll Shows Public Losing Trust in Driverless Cars After Multiple Crashes

The number of people who are losing trust in driverless cars has risen considerably in the past year, a recent AAA poll shows. According to a CNN news report, the survey, which was conducted in April, showed 73 percent of American drivers would be too afraid to drive in a self-driving car compared to 63 percent who expressed such sentiments in late 2017. Only 20 percent of the respondents said they trust a driverless car. AAA officials say any crash or incident involving a driverless vehicle is likely to shake consumer trust and trust is an important thing when it comes to widespread acceptance of driverless technology.

Recent Driverless Car Crashes

Safety is a major concern for consumers, and rightly so. In March, we witnessed the first fatality involving an autonomous vehicle when a self-driving Uber SUV struck and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona. Following that incident, Uber pulled its self-driving cars from the road and the state of Arizona suspended testing of these vehicles. In March, a Tesla Model X vehicle, which was in the semi-autonomous Autopilot mode, crashed into a highway median in Mountain View, Calif. killing the driver.

There were two other crashes involving Tesla vehicles in Autopilot mode in Southern California and Utah respectively, which did not result in fatalities. Nonetheless, they are investigation and are raising concerns about the safety of this technology. Following this consumer survey, AAA has made the recommendation that while self-driving technology holds the promise to make our roadways safer, the industry must execute testing in the safest manner possible.

Safety Must Be the Priority

Our auto defect attorneys have always maintained that these cars should not be on the roadway if they are not ready for primetime. Test vehicles should be driven on a track, perhaps one that simulates real-life conditions. Driverless cars should not be on a public roadway until they have been vigorously tested and all glitches have been removed. Tech companies and automakers who are investing in driverless technology would not have faced this additional challenge of fading consumer trust had they gotten their act together in their first place.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a driverless vehicle, or if you have lost a loved one as the result of a defective driverless vehicle, please remember that you have legal rights. There are a number of parties you may be able to hold responsible in such cases for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization and pain and suffering. An experienced auto defect lawyer will be able to guide you through the process and help you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Source: https://wtkr.com/2018/05/22/distrust-in-self-driving-cars-on-the-rise-after-crashes-aaa-says/