Despite the seemingly inevitable rise of the autonomous vehicle, most motorists say they want to retain the right to drive, according to two new pieces of research by IAM RoadSmart (www.iamroadsmart.com) formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

The organisation conducted a survey of 1,000 British motorists and a separate poll among its 92,000 members, which found that 65% of motorists believe a human should always be in control of a vehicle, and 87% say that driving should not be banned when driverless cars become readily available.

The surveys also found that 34% think driverless cars are ‘a bad idea’, while 55% think that they will never be the norm on UK roads.

Only 20% think that they are ‘a good idea’, and only 16% think that they are ‘an exciting prospect’. When told that, with 95% of accidents being down to human error, ‘there is a strong case for taking driver control out of the equation’, 24% agreed, while 15% disagreed.

When asked whether they would consider using a driverless car, 32% said they would, 38% said they would not, and 29% said they were unsure.

IAM RoadSmart chief executive Sarah Sillars said: “ ‘Intelligent’ cars will deliver a ‘step change’ in road safety by targeting the human errors we make from time to time. Technological advances that make driving and riding safer for all road users have to be embraced whole-heartedly, but British motorists and our members do want the right to drive.

At IAM RoadSmart, we believe a well-trained driver and an ever-vigilant car is a ‘win-win’ scenario for the future. This technology will also prove to be a major boost for business and keep UK plc at the cutting edge of technological advance.

“The Government is due to consult this summer on how the UK can lead the development of autonomous vehicles; we are ready, willing and able to participate fully in this discussion. One could see a time when motorists might be restricted to driving on designated roads — and possibly just for pleasure, rather than for work or getting from A to B.”