To reveal people’s opinions on self-driving cars and artificial intelligence (AI), automotive industry experts at Rerev carried out a comprehensive survey in May 2023, asking questions that covered topics such as comfort level with self-driving cars, willingness to purchase them, concern about job loss for drivers, trust in AI technology and safety concerns related to self-driving cars. The company said it surveyed 1,000 drivers aged 18 to 45 through 13 multiple-choice questions. The results are below:

• Comfort levels and purchase willingness: According to the survey, a majority of respondents (70%) felt uncomfortable riding in a self-driving car. In contrast, only 5% felt very comfortable, and 25% were unsure about it.
• Buying a self-driving car: The results showed 60% of respondents are very unlikely to buy a self-driving car within the next five years. In contrast, only 3% responded with a strong likelihood of making such a purchase, while 12% were uncertain. These findings indicate a cautious attitude toward adopting self-driving technology in the near future.
• Concerns about job loss: The survey revealed that job security for drivers was a significant concern, with 55% of respondents expressing deep worry about the potential impact of self-driving cars. On the other hand, 40% claimed not to be concerned at all, while 5% were unsure about the issue.
• Concerns about safety: Opinions on safety were diverse among respondents. A significant majority (70%) believed that self-driving cars would be less safe than human-driven ones. However, a small percentage (5%) thought they would be significantly safer, while 10% believed they would be slightly safer. Additionally, 5% expressed the view that both types would offer a similar level of safety.
• Trust in AI technology: When asked if they think self-driving cars will eventually be safer than human-driven cars 30% of participants expressed complete trust, 40% expressed slight trust and 30% reported a complete lack of trust.
• Concerns about hacking and backup drivers: Hacking emerged as a major concern among respondents, with 80% expressing high levels of worry about the potential for self-driving cars to be hacked.
• Backup drivers: Of respondents surveyed, 90% strongly believed that self-driving cars should always have a human backup driver available for emergencies.
• Potential benefits and drawbacks: In terms of benefits, 40% cited increased fuel efficiency as the primary advantage. Reduced traffic congestion was mentioned by 30%, and only 30% believed in improved safety.
• Open source technology: Being asked if car manufacturers should be required to make their self-driving technology open source, 40% percent agreed to this to promote transparency and collaboration. On the other hand, 30% argued against it, emphasizing the importance of protecting proprietary technology. The remaining 30% believed that the decision should be left to the discretion of the manufacturer.