AAA’s latest automated vehicle survey finds more than half —58% — of drivers want to see Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), like automatic emergency braking and lane assistance, in their next vehicle, with a majority (80%) looking for advancements to these systems. These findings signal that people are open to more sophisticated vehicle technology, which opens the road to boosting public acceptance of autonomous vehicles.

“Consumers will likely have at least one type of ADAS in their next vehicle, and in many cases, this will provide their first interaction with advanced vehicle technology,” said Matt Alfano, Vice President, Mobility Innovation for AAA Northern California. “This experience will influence driver opinion of future vehicle automation and reinforces the need for automakers to improve vehicle technology by expanding testing and focusing on real-world scenarios.”

While Americans’ interest in owning a car with more advanced technology grows, they are still struggling to warm up to the idea of full-vehicle automation. Similar to last year’s results, AAA’s 2021 annual automated vehicle survey found:

* 14% of drivers would be comfortable riding in a vehicle that drives itself

* 86% of drivers would be afraid to ride in an automated vehicle