Brits would rather drive themselves than be driven by autonomous cars, survey says

The vast majority of Brits still want to be offered the option of driving themselves when autonomous cars become the norm.

Mazda quizzed 1,002 adults in the UK, and 11,008 across Europe, on their attitudes towards driverless vehicles as part of its Drive Together campaign.

The survey revealed that 71 per cent of UK motorists would still want to drive themselves even when autonomous technology becomes available, while just 29 per cent actively welcome its arrival.

Across Europe, 66 per cent of motorists wanted to remain behind the wheel themselves if autonomous technology became widely adopted in future.

Mazda UK managing director Jeremy Thomson said: “It’s heartening to see that so many British drivers still love driving.

“Yes, self-driving cars are coming and yes, they have a role to play, but for us, there is nothing quite like the physical pleasure of driving – the quickening of the pulse, the racing of the heart, the open road, the special moments to treasure and share.”

He added: “We believe in putting the driver at the heart of everything we do, and our current Drive Together campaign focuses on the bond between car and driver.

“We call this ‘Jinba Ittai’, which is the Japanese phrase used to describe the perfect harmony between horse and rider.

“It is this human-centric philosophy that underpins our business and helps us create cars that bring the driver and their car closer together.”

The survey also revealed that 70 per cent of UK motorists hoped future generations would be offered the option to drive themselves, while 81 per cent said they enjoyed driving themselves because it gave them independence.

Across Europe, 54 per cent of participants said they had been for a drive “just for fun”, while 55 per cent said that driving with friends or family could be a “special experience”.

Thomson added: “If you look at the car industry in general, we believe that many manufacturers are taking a lot of driving pleasure away from drivers.

“At Mazda we are fighting against this, and it’s clear from the research that there’s still a huge percentage of drivers who just want to be behind the wheel.

“In a world that questions the act of driving and devalues the role of the car and the role of the driver through technological changes, we will continue to challenge convention for the love of driving.”