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Connected and autonomous vehicles could transform the lives of millions of people in the UK, a new study has claimed.
According to the results of research published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) in conjunction with Strategy&, which is auditing company PwC's consultancy arm, 57% those questioned said driverless vehicles would improve their quality of life.
This figure rises significantly when looking at the responses of 17-24 year-olds, with 71% suggesting their lives would be improved by autonomous vehicles.
Nearly a third of young people surveyed said the cost of car ownership is currently putting them off driving, with the SMMT suggesting autonomous vehicles could help them save money on transport.
Meanwhile, 86% of the 3,600 people surveyed said an autonomous vehicle would help them get out of the house more, while the SMMT claimed those with mobility-related disabilities could benefit the most, with half saying a driverless vehicle would allow them to take up hobbies outside of the house.
It also stated that autonomous vehicles have the ability to give a million disabled people access to higher education and/or better-paid jobs, enabling them to increase their earnings by an average of £8,500 a year.
"The benefits of connected and autonomous vehicles are life-changing, offering more people greater independence, freedom to socialise, work and earn more, and access services more easily," said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. "While fully autonomous cars will be a step change for society, this report shows people are already seeing their benefits. The challenge now is to create the conditions that will allow this technology to thrive, given how it will deliver wider societal advantages."
Mark Couttie, Strategy& partner added: "Expanding people's horizons about the advantages of fully autonomous cars is a vital first step. This means better communicating the art of the possible to increase social acceptance and dispel concerns that our survey identified relating to cost and safety. Significant investment must also be made to improve the connectivity infrastructure across the UK road network and this report provides a number of clear recommendations to ensure that we capitalise on this window of opportunity."
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