Survey: Consumers Concerned by Driver Liability in Self-Driving Vehicles

Driver liability could be a major hurdle in the widespread adoption of hands-free and self-driving vehicles, a recent survey from Autolist.com found. The results underscore a potential need for greater federal guidance as vehicles with hands-free and self-driving capabilities become more common, the surveyors said.

The survey also concluded:

  • 49% of respondents said they’d be more stressed using self-driving features if it was the driver who was liable in the event of a crash. Just 13% of consumers said they’d be less stressed using these features if the driver was liable.
  • When asked who they expected would be liable in a self-driving vehicle crash, more consumers chose the maker of the software or hardware than any other answer.
  • 35% of people said they wouldn’t buy a vehicle with self-driving features at all if the driver was the liable party; 20% said this liability would have no impact on their purchase consideration.
  • On vehicles that already have these features, 41% of consumers said they would rarely or never use them if they made the driver liable.

Click here to read the complete study.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.