A Startline Motor Finance survey has revealed that a majority of motorists are concerned about road safety when trials of self-driving vehicles in the UK commence in 2026.
The research suggests that many drivers plan to modify their behaviour when encountering autonomous vehicles during this period.
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Findings from the November Startline Used Car Tracker reveal that 64% of motorists feel uneasy about sharing roads with autonomous vehicles once testing starts.
The survey also noted that 64% of those polled intend to be more cautious near these vehicles, 28% do not support testing on public roads, 27% foresee a decrease in road safety, and 11% expect unpredictable actions from self-driving cars.
According to the results, 41% of motorists are curious and plan to observe how autonomous vehicles operate.
Among the respondents, 39% intend to continue their usual driving practices around self-driving vehicles, 21% anticipate adapting quickly, and 15% believe such technology could improve road safety.
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By GlobalDataTesting of self-driving technology in the UK will initially focus on passenger transport vehicles such as buses and taxis.
Companies such as Waymo and Uber are expected to participate in these trials.
The legislative framework enabling these tests, the Autonomous Vehicles Act, requires that self-driving vehicles demonstrate capabilities comparable to a careful human driver.
The Startline Used Car Tracker is produced each month for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research. This month’s survey gathered input from 302 consumers and 60 dealers with experience in the motor industry.
Startline Motor Finance CEO Paul Burgess said: “There has been news of autonomous vehicles in the press for some years that has prompted a great deal of public interest but the situation will get real with tests starting on our roads next year.
“Findings show there is a high degree of nervousness around their arrival, which is very much understandable – suddenly finding yourself sharing a road with a vehicle that has no driver will be a new and unnerving experience for most motorists. Responding to that situation by driving more cautiously is a very human response.”
An earlier survey by Startline revealed that most UK motorists support the introduction of increased parking fees for large SUVs in cities, in line with measures adopted in Paris, France.
