More Than 90% of Americans Have Concerns About Self-Driving Trucks

62% of Americans believe autonomous trucks will make highway driving more dangerous

The big question when it comes to self-driving trucks is whether they’ll be safe to share the road with. Our survey found that 62% of Americans believe autonomous trucks will make highway driving more dangerous. Of this 62%, around 1 in 2 respondents said that self-driving trucks will make roads much less safe.

While Americans were twice as likely to state that they’d feel safer sharing the road with autonomous cars than with autonomous trucks, 50% said they wouldn’t feel comfortable driving around either—and this number was even higher for women and baby boomers.

Less Than 10% of Americans Have No Major Concerns When It Comes to the Implementation of Self-Driving Trucks

Bottom line: Americans are worried about how self-driving trucks will be implemented. Across all demographics, only 8% of drivers say they have no major concerns about autonomous trucks hitting the roads in the coming years.

Of our respondents, 44% were most afraid of the possibility of faulty or inconsistent safety technology leading to accidents. Another 20% said they were worried about liability in the case of a crash with a self-driving truck. 

There has also been discussion of truck drivers losing their jobs due to autonomous vehicles, which 17% of Americans chose as their number one concern. And finally, 11% of respondents said they were most worried about self-driving trucks not being carefully regulated by the government.

Women Are More Worried About Self-Driving Trucks

Our survey found notable differences between men’s and women’s attitudes toward self-driving trucks. While 53% of respondents who identify as men believe self-driving trucks will make roads more dangerous, that number was 71% for  those who identify as women—a difference of almost 20%. 

Female drivers were more likely to say they’d feel unsafe sharing the road with autonomous vehicles or using self-driving features in a passenger car. On the other hand, male respondents were three times more likely than women to say they have no major concerns about self-driving trucks. 

While women are generally more apprehensive than men about the potential dangers of autonomous semi-trucks, 48% do think autonomous semi-trucks could help lower shipping costs, improve safety, or remedy truck driver shortages. This number was higher for men (63%), but it shows that, despite reservations, some respondents still see benefits to self-driving trucks.

Most Americans Believe Human Co-Pilots Should Be Paid the Same or More Than Today’s Truck Drivers

Much of the controversy surrounding autonomous trucks involves the possible impact on job security for truck drivers. Self-driving trucks haven’t been fully implemented yet, so it isn’t clear whether they’ll be manned by human co-pilots. But if they are, 67% of Americans think human co-pilots should be paid the same or higher salaries than truck drivers today.

Additionally, nearly 60% of respondents say they’d feel safer sharing the road with self-driving trucks if they were manned by a human being. With a co-pilot, there’s always someone ready to take control in the event of a computer malfunction or sensor issue. 

This safety precaution is important for Americans: While some companies are pushing for fully driverless cabins, only a small minority of people (16%) believe autonomous trucks should not have human co-pilots. But not everyone is aligned on co-pilot salaries—18% of respondents said they should be paid less than truck drivers make now. 

Baby Boomers Are More Concerned About Autonomous Trucks Than Other Age Groups

Among all age groups, baby boomers are the least receptive to self-driving trucks and autonomous vehicles in general. In our survey, 80% of respondents age 60 and older said they think driverless semis will make traveling on the highway more dangerous. 

Compared to Gen Xers, millennials, and Gen Zers, boomers were twice as likely to state that no safety feature will make autonomous trucks safe to drive around. This skepticism toward self-driving technology applies to smaller vehicles, too, as 70% of boomers said they wouldn’t feel safe using the self-driving mode in a passenger car. For other age groups, that number was closer to 40%. 

When it comes to human co-pilots, 80% of baby boomers said they should be paid the same or more than truck drivers make today—the highest percentage of any age group. Overall, older Americans show a clear preference for keeping human beings in truck cabs and a high level of concern about autonomous vehicles.

6 Tips for Driving Safely Around Trucks

Self-driving trucks may not have landed on your roads yet, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be unprepared when they do. Truck accident statistics show only a small percentage of crashes are due to trucks, but it’s important to be vigilant. Safe driving is safe driving, whether you’re sharing the highway with an autonomous semi or not. Protect yourself and others by following these tips:

• Wear a seatbelt: This rule is basic because it works. You’re about twice as likely to survive a collision if you have your seatbelt fastened.
• Maintain safe following distances: Following a truck too closely increases your chances of an accident. When traveling at 40 mph or higher, try to keep five seconds of distance between your car and a semi.
• Know your blind spots: Most drivers can’t correctly identify all of a semi-truck’s blind spots. Be sure you know whether you’re visible to truck drivers using the diagram from our trucking safety survey.
• Perform regular vehicle maintenance: Inspect your truck or car often so you know it’s safe to operate—it could be the difference between a smooth trip and a dangerous one. 
• Keep your eyes on the road: With self-driving trucks primed to hit the road, it’s more important than ever to be aware of your surroundings and avoid distractions while behind the wheel.
• Plan your routes carefully: If possible, map out your routes beforehand so you can be prepared for potential hazards, unsafe roads, and poor weather conditions.

Our survey shows that autonomous truck manufacturers have work to do when it comes to public opinion. Many Americans remain unconvinced that self-driving trucks will be safe to share the road with, and they have concerns about faulty technology, accident liability, and the potential loss of jobs for truckers.

Source: FinditParts

 

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