It seems as thought there is still a lot of work to be done in order for the general public to be convinced of the value and benefits of driverless vehicles, if the results of a recent survey are anything to go by.

Motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk asked 1000 car insurance customers whether they would be keen to buy a self-driving car and 87% said they wouldn not.

Last month the UK became the first European country to permit drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel on public roads when the government authorised Ford to turn on its ‘BlueCruise’ system on motorways. The system allows AI control of acceleration, braking and steering in designated ‘Blue Zones’ that cover 2,300 miles of motorway across England, Scotland and Wales.

However, research suggests that the main reason UK motorists (44% of those polled) don’t want driverless technology is because they like the feel of driving a car themselves.

The other main reason cited (40%) for the rejection of hands-free technology was the fear that giving up control of their cars would make drivers feel unsafe.

Transport Minister Jesse Norman has told MPs that “scare stories, particularly in the early stages”, will be part of the process of adapting to the technology.

Asked about the safety of self-driving vehicles by the Commons Transport Select Committee, Mr Norman referred to the inevitable “moral panic” that the British public would need to weather.

Fully self-driving cars are currently banned on UK roads, but legislation to approve the technology could be only two years away.

“We love the feeling of the wheel in our hands, the feedback from the road as we drive and the control of the vehicle as we accelerate, brake and change lanes. Safety concerns may be allayed over time as the public begin to trust the technology but the question is whether drivers will ever get over giving up something they love,” said Helen Rolph, car insurance comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk.

(Pic: Yay Images)