A new survey by heycar, an online vehicle retail service, has revealed that many drivers still believe in their own skills behind the wheel more than they do in car technology. Despite the ongoing development of driverless vehicles, the study found a significant number of drivers are more confident in their own abilities compared to any form of technology inside their car.
Dermot Kelleher, Chief Marketing Officer of heycar, highlighted that a blend of human skills and technological assistance is currently considered the safest approach to driving. He explained, “While technology continues to advance and enhance our driving experience, it’s clear that many drivers still trust their own instincts and abilities over automated systems. This blend of human expertise and technological assistance may ultimately lead to the safest roads yet.”
The survey, conducted among 2,000 motorists across the UK, found that 57% believe they are better at parking their vehicle than an autonomous system. Autonomous parking systems, becoming increasingly common in new cars, utilize sensors to automatically park the vehicle at the touch of a button. Despite their aim to alleviate parking stress, many drivers remain concerned about potential sensor inaccuracies, fearing the risk of an accident.
Surprisingly, 37% of those surveyed also expressed their belief that they have a better sense of direction compared to their car’s sat nav. While sat nav systems have become ubiquitous since the 1990s, assisting drivers in finding efficient routes, some drivers still maintain that their own sense of direction is superior. Notably, heycar found that drivers aged 18 to 34 are less likely to rely on sat nav, opting instead to use their own instincts and map reading skills.
These findings suggest that while car technology continues to evolve, many drivers still value their own experience and intuition when it comes to navigating the roads. The future of driving may be a combination of human expertise and technological assistance, leading to safer roads for everyone.
