Survey Shows Growing Acceptance of Driverless Cars Among Americans

The article discusses Americans’ attitudes toward autonomous vehicles, specifically robotaxis. Here are the key points:

1. Increased Familiarity: Americans are more familiar with autonomous vehicles than a decade ago but still prefer the option to drive themselves.

2. Survey Findings: A Cox Automotive survey reveals that about 20% of people have ridden in a robotaxi, and experiences generally improve perceptions of self-driving cars—83% reported a better impression after trying one.

3. Hesitations: Many remain hesitant:

   • 61% are uncomfortable with driverless cars.
   • 64% expect autonomous vehicles to be much safer than human drivers.
   • 27% believe robotaxis could be overly cautious and less responsive than human drivers.

4. Driving Behavior: Despite concerns, Rebecca Higgins from the Eno Center for Transportation suggests that human drivers could learn from the careful driving of robots.

Overall, the article highlights both the growing acceptance and ongoing reservations regarding robotaxis and autonomous technology.