In September 2016, State Farm worked with Bloomberg Government to measure the public’s perceptions of driverless cars. The results were presented at Bloomberg's Next Tech event in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 15, 2016. Strategic Resources Director Chris Mullen represented State Farm on the panel.

Click links in the left navigation bar to download a full survey report and Bloomberg content.

About the survey - Bloomberg Govenment conducted the survey on behalf of State Farm to:

• Establish a better understanding of the general public’s attitudes and expectations around the acceptance of automated vehicle technologies.
• Gain a better understanding of the public’s impressions of these technologies and the knowledge gaps that may exist around their use.
• Focus on how this new technology will impact consumer behavior, with a spotlight on safety.

Key Findings

• Between 30-40% would definitely consider riding in a vehicle with autonomous/self driving capabilities…if:
  • The vehicle was in an area with few or no other vehicles
  • In low speed areas
  • For very short rides, under 10 minutes
• While some are willing to try, most are not completely at ease with the concept.
  • Less than 20% would definitely consider riding in an autonomous vehicle in heavily congested or high speed areas (65 mph+).
  • Respondents said they would be most comfortable with autonomous/self-driving vehicles that they own or lease.
  • There is less comfort with autonomous/self-driving buses, shuttles, taxis or ride sharing services (Uber, Lyft, etc.) compared to other autonomous/self-driving vehicles.
  • Autonomous vehicles are not yet considered a solution for those unable to drive.
  • This is particularly true of those too young to drive – only 14% are very comfortable with sending younger (non-drivers) in an autonomous vehicle.
• Respondents consider it slightly more acceptable to have the physically disabled or the elderly travel in this manner.
• Over half are very concerned about the possibility of dangerous outcomes due to autonomous/self-driving vehicles such as:
  • Computer system malfunctions, especially if they cause the vehicle to crash
  • The potential for hacking, taking over the vehicle
  • Sensors not operating optimally in certain weather conditions or at night
• Only about a third believe these dangerous outcomes are very likely to occur
• There are a number of potential benefits that make autonomous vehicles attractive, including the possibility of:
  • Lower accident rates
  • Lower insurance rates
  • Being able to travel while drowsy
  • Reduced traffic congestion
• Demographics are best at explaining comfort with autonomous vehicles. Those most predisposed toward autonomous vehicles tend to be:
  • Male
  • Under the age of 40
  • Have a college degree
• The amount of time an individual spends in a vehicle is also positively related to interest. However, those that are rarely passengers are LESS interested in trying an autonomous vehicle.
• Seeing an autonomous/self-driving vehicle operate first hand and/or being exposed to research demonstrating their safety will go a long way toward appeasing consumer concerns.

Bloomington, Illinois, October 17, 2016 – Over 80 percent of teens said when surveyed that they use their smartphones while driving. According to a new report from State Farm, American teens who choose to be distracted by their smartphones when they’re behind the wheel are also more likely to participate in other dangerous driving behaviors, like speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or failing to wear a seatbelt.

In July, 2016 State Farm conducted a survey of teen drivers ages 16-19 which explored distracted driving behaviors. A strong relationship was revealed between teens’ willingness to use their smartphones while driving and participating in these other risky behaviors.

A clear relationship also emerged between admitted smartphone use behind the wheel and self-reported car crashes. Compared to those who have not been in a crash, those who have been in a crash were more than three times more likely to report watching videos and browsing the internet while driving and two to three times more likely to send and read texts, take pictures, record video, read and update social media, and play games on their cellphone while driving.

“Young drivers learn many of their driving behaviors from their parents,” says Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm. “In our survey, teens who indicated that their parents used cellphones while driving were more likely to report participating in many of these distracting activities. This tells us that parents have it in their power to help alleviate these dangerous activities by demonstrating safe driving themselves.”

Other findings from the survey include:

• The majority of teens understand that using their cellphone while driving is dangerous, and they also know that it is illegal. When asked why they still participate in these behaviors, top reasons included wanting to stay in touch with family and friends, and “it is a habit.”
• Those teens who refrain from using their smartphone while driving report doing so for safety reasons, and because it is illegal in their state.
• Teen drivers’ perceptions about their state laws impact their driving behavior. Regardless of the actual law, teens were more likely to use their phones while driving if they thought it was legal to do so, and less likely if they thought it was illegal.
• Those survey respondents who have their own car were significantly more likely to participate in distracting behaviors while driving than were those who share the family car.

The full report with survey results can be downloaded here.

Methodology

In July 2016, the State Farm Strategic Resources Department used an outside panel vendor to conduct an online survey of U.S. consumers ages 16-19. Survey responses were received from approximately 1,000 consumers who reported having a valid driver’s license, driving at least 1 hour per week, and owning a smartphone. A number of changes were made to the survey research in 2016 such that results in this report should not be compared with the results in the 2015 “Teens and Distracted Driving” report also produced by State Farm.

Bloomington, Ill., August 31, 2016 – It appears that semi-autonomous cars may not always be carrying a driver who’s alert and ready to take over control of the vehicle if necessary, according to a new survey from State Farm®.

State Farm conducted the survey to examine drivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and potential behaviors regarding autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles. This survey was the second iteration of a study first conducted in September 2013.

Autonomous cars can drive themselves without any human involvement. Semi-autonomous cars include automated features but may still require human operators in some circumstances.

The survey asked drivers how much more, or less, likely they would be to engage in certain behaviors when a semi-autonomous vehicle is driving itself compared to when they are driving the vehicle. Knowing that there may be circumstances where the driver may need to take over control a semi-autonomous car, survey respondents said they would more likely be:

• Eating – 48 percent
• Reading texts – 45 percent
• Sending texts – 43 percent
• Taking pictures – 36 percent
• Accessing the internet – 36 percent
• Tending to children – 32 percent
• Recording videos – 26 percent
• Watching movies – 21 percent
• Reading a book – 19 percent

The survey findings were released during a presentation yesterday at the annual meeting of the Governors Highway Safety Association. “Drivers need to be aware that there may be unexpected and critical situations when they will need to be in full control of their semi-autonomous car,” said presenter Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm. “This survey shows that people want to do things other than drive during their trips; there is a need for education so that consumers understand the capabilities and potential limitations of their automated systems, and what’s required of the driver.”

Additional findings: more awareness and more confidence in technology.

Compared to three years ago, considerably more drivers have heard of self-driving vehicles. And though they did not show an increased interest in purchasing a fully automated car, compared to three years ago consumers are more confident in the ability of self-driving cars to navigate safely on their own.

Although wide use of autonomous vehicles is years away, cars with some automated features are already available, and most survey respondents are knowledgeable about those features.

Consumers most want automated backup assistance and drowsy driving detection.

Respondents were provided with a description of technologies that included backup assistance, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlights, lane departure assistance, automated braking and drowsy driver detection. While they were at least somewhat familiar with them all, the features they were most interested in were backup assistance and drowsy driving detection.

They see that vehicle-to-vehicle technology can improve safety.

Vehicle-to-vehicle technology allows the car to communicate with other nearby vehicles. Roughly half of respondents think vehicle-to-vehicle technology would be useful in increasing safety and would be interested in having a car with this technology.

Full report

Click for a copy of the full survey findings.

Methodology

In September 2013 and June 2016, the State Farm Strategic Resources Department used an outside panel vendor to conduct an online survey of U.S. consumers ages 18+. Survey responses were received from approximately 1,000 consumers each year, who identified themselves as having some insurance and financial responsibility for their household. Of the total respondents, only those who reported having a valid driver’s license were used in the analyses in this report.