In May, market researcher Penn Schoen Berland canvassed 2,506 American drivers about their driving habits. The findings, presented last week at a Ford press conference, are sobering:- 76% of respondents admitted to eating or to drinking non-alcoholic drinks while behind the wheel
- 53% admitted to talking on a handheld phone
- 33% admitted to fiddling with their mobile gadgets
- 55% admitted to driving beyond the speed limit
- 37% admitted to driving when too tired
And here�s the kicker: 99% of respondents claimed they were safe drivers.
I know, it's a major disconnect. But here's what I find interesting: most respondents also expressed interest in driver assistance systems. In other words, even self-proclaimed safe drivers tacitly admitted they could use help now and then. For instance:
- 8 out of 10 respondents expressed interest in technologies that would help them stay in their lane
- 9 out of 10 expressed interest in technologies that could detect an impending collision and slow the car down
Respondents also expressed interest in systems that could detect a car in their blind-spot, provide voice-activated phone dialing, or park the car automatically. That said, only 39% said they�d feel comfortable riding an autonomous car.
My take? That number will grow significantly once more people drive cars equipped with adaptive cruise control, automatic parallel park, and other driver-assist systems. The more people become accustomed to such systems, the more they'll accept a car that does most of the driving for them.
For media coverage of this study, visit Forbes, Scientific American, and the Wall Street Journal.