Self-driving cars are on the rise, and mounting evidence suggests they’re involved in fewer and less severe accidents than human-driven vehicles. Yet despite these promising statistics, many people remain hesitant to hand over the steering wheel. Below, we explore why data alone isn’t enough to overcome our deep-rooted need for control—and what that might mean for the future of autonomous vehicles.
1. Fewer Accidents, More Anxiety
- Better Safety Record
Studies show that current generation self-driving cars experience fewer crashes overall. Advanced sensors and machine-learning algorithms can respond faster than humans in many situations, eliminating human errors like distraction or fatigue. - Public Reluctance
Despite the statistics, there is palpable fear of self-driving cars. People question whether they can handle every possible roadway scenario—from the mundane to unpredictable pedestrians to extreme weather events.
2. The Human Desire for Control
- Blame and Fault
When a human driver causes an accident, we often focus on individual negligence or error. If a machine fails, however, we feel powerless—our fate was left to an algorithm. This dynamic can make even a statistically safer system seem scarier. - Psychology of Risk
Many people would rather drive themselves, accepting a higher risk of accidents, than ride in a self-driving car where they have no control. It’s a dilemma of control vs. safety: Is giving up autonomy worth fewer accidents? This isn’t new. Commercial air travel has long been safer than driving to the destination, but many people experience fear of flying but are just fine driving.
3. Implications for Technological Progress
- Slow Adoption Curve
History shows that human comfort and social acceptance can lag behind technological capability. Basically scientific advances come first, and public acceptance can lag even in the face of clear evidence. Autonomous vehicle manufacturers can point to safety data, but changing human perception is another hurdle entirely. - The Airplane Crash Phenomenon:
If there is a two car accident killing four people, it might get on the local news, but it is far from a national or international story. By contrast, if a single engine Cessna with a single pilot and no passengers crashes, it will absolutely be on the local news, and absent a busy news day, will likely be on national news as well. Just watching the news, you would think that airplanes are far more dangerous than they are based on human bias in favor of paying attention to uncommon events. - Future Legislation and Industry Growth
While widespread acceptance of fully autonomous self-driving cars is unlikely soon, consumer trust could build incrementally. Innovations in reliability and transparency—such as requiring clear explanations for how autonomous systems make decisions—may pave the way for broader acceptance.
Want More Details?
Check out the accompanying Innovation Cafe video where Gary Shuster discusses how self-driving cars reveal our deep-rooted biases around control, risk, and trust.