It is expected that self-driving cars will eventually become the norm and default mode of transportation in the future. After all if drivers can save themselves time from driving while accomplishing other things, why not? Plus no one likes sitting in traffic jams so having someone (or something) else behind the wheel is great.
However according to a recent study conducted by the Kempten University of Applied Sciences, it seems that self-driving vehicles cause higher levels of stress amongst passengers. According to study author Bernhard Schick, “We wanted to explore how the car of the future would have to be designed in order for humans to be able to trust their vehicle.”
Schick conducted the study with 50 participants that ranged in their age groups. The study also monitored the participants while a car with modern lane-keeping systems was driven around. It found that stress levels increased in all subjects when the system was activated, but it has been suggested that this is largely due to the fact that participants weren’t sure how to feel surrendering control to a computer.
We suppose this is normal behavior and as soon as it becomes the norm, people should get used to it. In the meantime accidents like the one Uber recently experienced are probably not doing the whole self-driving concept any favors regardless of who was at fault.
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