Self-driving cars sound like a dream come true — you just sit back and relax while the car does all the work. But would you actually trust a fully autonomous vehicle to get you from point A to point B in one piece? For many, the answer is yes.
According to a new survey from Insurance.com, 22.4 percent of drivers would purchase a self-driving car if it was available today. But not everyone is ready to jump on board. The survey of 2,000 licensed drivers, conducted in June, also found that 24.5 percent would never consider it.
"Many U.S. drivers are ready for a computer co-pilot, but less willing to hand over control completely," according to Insurance.com.
For instance, more than 76 percent of respondents would not trust a self-driving car to take their child to school. Almost 24 percent would.
Self-driving cars may seem futuristic, but the technology is closer than you might think. A number of companies have autonomous vehicles in the works, including Audi, Nissan, Mercedes, Toyota, and Google. Audi just this week closed down a Tampa, Florida highway to test out a driverless car in an effort to show that the technology will soon be ready for the real world.
The FBI believes that autonomous cars could be approved by Congress for use in the U.S. within five to seven years, but worries they could be used as lethal weapons if they fall into the wrong hands. Even so, the common belief is that self-driving cars will actually enhance road safety and driving conditions and reduce the number of accidents.
Still, 61 percent of respondents in the Insurance.com survey said they would make better decisions behind the wheel than a computer. In addition, just 31 percent said they would let a computer drive their vehicle whenever possible.
For more, check out PCMag's test drive in Volvo's self-driving car. Also see Are You Ready to Give Your Keys to a Self-Driving Car?