Driverless Ubers? New study shows who would get in

The public’s feelings over driverless vehicles have largely been split, even despite little to no experience with automated motoring. Last month’s fatal accident in Tempe, Arizona, added to the debate after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a self-driving Uber during a testing stage.

Recently, insuranceQuotes.com released the results of its study on the public’s perception of autonomous vehicles. The researchers asked, ”If you ordered an Uber, and your ride arrived with no driver, would you get in?”

The study found that 61% of American adults would not ride in a self-driving rideshare, while 36% said they would. Delving deeper into these responses, the study results highlighted notable gender and generational differences in feelings towards autonomous Ubers, Lyfts or taxis.

Millennials vs baby boomers

Unsurprisingly, the insuranceQuotes.com study found that millennials are more accepting of driverless vehicles and rideshares than older generations.

Among millennials (ages 18-34), 54% responded they would take the driverless ride, and 45% said they feel safer sharing the road with them. This is compared to 36% and 31% for the general population, respectively.

Interestingly though, a large majority of the general public has optimistic views for the future of autonomous cars, with 71% saying they believe the vehicles will be widely used and will be statistically safer than human-driven cars within the next 50 years.

Related: Navigating the twists and turns of self-driving cars and insurance

Gender as a factor

The insuranceQuotes.com study identified notable gender differences, as well. Across the board, men have warmer feelings towards automated motoring than women.

When it comes to Uber, men (43%) are more likely than women (31%) to get into a self-driving rideshare. Additionally, 44% of men would feel comfortable in a self-driving car, and 38% would feel safer sharing the road with these vehicles, compared to just 29% and 24% of women, respectively.

To help explain these gender differences, Tim Spell, an automotive technology analyst at insuranceQuotes.com, says that while men and women share most views about driving, women generally are more practical about transportation needs and place a greater importance on feeling secure in a vehicle.

“Time has revealed that teenage males are more likely than females to view cars as toys, and gamble with speed and dicey maneuvers,” Spell adds. “This tendency in many males hasn’t completely diminished with adulthood.”

Spell is the author of a new editorial series on driverless cars on insuranceQuotes.com and has been covering the automotive industry for more than 30 years.

He adds, “With time and technological advancements, more Americans will eventually warm up to self-driving cars, and manufacturers, insurers, and lawmakers will adjust as well.”

“Over the years, we’ve seen many automotive innovations — from the seat belt to the windshield wiper to the GPS — and, with self-driving vehicles, we’re on the cusp of a technology that’s about to make, by far, the greatest impact of them all.”

For more on Spell’s work and the full insuranceQuotes.com study, visit the company’s website.

Related: Driverless cars aren’t the only danger to pedestrians