The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) found that people surveyed feel positive about connected vehicles, have optimistic expectations of the benefits, have some concerns, and generally desire connected-vehicle technology when it becomes available.
This newly published paper titled “A Survey of Public Opinion About Connected Vehicles in the U.S., The U.K., And Australia” is full with interesting facts and figures such as:
- Willing to Pay the Price – Most people would be willing to pay for connected vehicle technology, and at least 25% of individuals would be willing to pay $400-$500 extra, depending on the country, to have this technology.
- Cheapskates Won’t Pay – Less than half of the respondents in each country were unwilling to pay extra for the technology, those who were willing to pay offered similar amounts in each country.
- SAFETY FIRST- The majority of those surveyed stated that safety was the most important aspect of connected vehicles citing the possibility of fewer crashes, reduced severity of crashes, improved emergency response times, less traffic congestion, shorter travel time, lower emissions, better fuel economy, lower cost insurance and less distractions for drivers.
- Smartphone & Internet Connections Wanted –Most of those surveyed believe that it is important for personal communication devices to integrate with connected vehicles, as well as for the connected vehicles to have Internet connectivity.
- More YAY in UK -The most positive responses came from the U.K. (66.6%), then Australia (64.4%) and the U.S. (56.9%) in regards to connected car.
- Some Still Driving in Neutral Gear – Around a third of respondents were neutral.
- Concerns Concerning Some Things -There were concerns voiced around equipment failure, liability, security, privacy and performance in bad weather.
The study by Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak was released in April was based on a survey of nearly 1,600 drivers over the age of 18 from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia in which the respondents were asked about connected vehicles. Almost 80% had never heard of the idea before.
UMTRI hosted the 2014 Global Symposium on Connected Vehicles and Infrastructure, April 21-23, at the University of Michigan.
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