Northwest Drivers’ Trust in Automotive Safety Tech Features Has Increased, But Many Still Aren’t Ready for Driverless Cars

As the prevalence of vehicle safety features has steadily increased, a new poll by PEMCO Mutual Insurance finds that drivers’ trust in the latest technology-driven bells and whistles has risen significantly, as well. But while drivers today may embrace safety tech assistance from tools like back-up cameras and brake assist, most admit that they’re not ready to jump into the passenger seat of a driverless car.

According to the PEMCO Poll, as certain vehicle technologies have become more commonplace in new and used cars, drivers in Seattle and Portland are two- to three-times more likely than they were six years ago to have safety features like brake assist, back-up cameras, blind spot warning and collision avoidance installed in their vehicle. Today, 55% of Northwest drivers have a back-up camera in their primary vehicles, compared to just 22% who said the same in 2016. Similarly, the number of Northwest drivers with forward collision avoidance has tripled in six years – 32% of Northwest drivers currently have this feature, while just 10% did in 2016.

Interestingly, as more vehicle safety features become standard, drivers’ trust in the technology has increased, as well. Among Seattle drivers in 2022, 58% said they mostly or completely trust vehicle safety features, which is up from 45% of drivers who said the same in 2016. In Portland, the increase in trust is even more profound with 59% saying they mostly or completely trust these features in 2022, while only 38% said the same in 2016.

Though many Northwest drivers are confident in their cars’ safety features, when it comes to driverless or autonomous vehicles, PEMCO’s poll tells a different story. The poll found that more than four in five residents feel somewhat or extremely concerned about the safety of sharing streets and roads with driverless vehicles. In Seattle, 85% of respondents say they’re at least somewhat concerned with sharing the roads with an autonomous vehicle, while in Portland, 82% of respondents feel the same.

“It’s been interesting to follow this trend over time and see that even in the tech-savvy region of the Pacific Northwest, drivers here still share a healthy amount of skepticism for the safety of driverless cars,” said PEMCO spokesperson Allison Leep. “As more manufacturers invest in driverless tech and autonomous vehicles, we’re curious to see if trust in self-driving technology increases like it has with other safety features over the past several years. Regardless, at PEMCO, our highest priority is the safety of everyone on the road, so it is encouraging to see that residents are placing a high value on safety even as cars of the future are becoming more of a reality.”

The PEMCO poll also found that residents here predict that driverless cars will be welcome on a majority of city streets and highways within the next five years. About half (51%) think that autonomous vehicles will cruise the streets in five years or less, even if a human is required to monitor from the driver’s seat – which is double what it was in 2016.

Yet, only one in three respondents (33%) expressed interest in owning a driverless car – even if the car’s price tag wasn’t a factor. In Seattle, 54% of respondents believe that driverless cars will be seen regularly on the road within the next five years, yet only 34% are very or extremely interested in owning one, regardless of price or legality. While in Portland, 47% of respondents believe that autonomous cars will be on the road within five years. Still, only 32% of Portlanders say they’re very interested in owning a driverless vehicle.

When asked whether vehicle manufacturers should focus on updating and improving safety features or driverless technology, nearly three in four respondents (73%) said that safety features should take precedence over vehicle autonomy.

For a complete summary of PEMCO’s proprietary poll results visit www.pemco.com/blog/nw-polls, where you’ll find responses collected by FBK Research of Seattle in July 2022.

About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll

PEMCO Mutual Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by FBK Research of Seattle, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about driving habits and attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 415 respondents in the Seattle Metro (King, Snohomish, Pierce Counties) region and 407 respondents in the Portland Metro (Multnomah, Marion, Clackamas, Washington Counties) region yields an accuracy of +/- 5.0% respectively at the 95% confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range.

About PEMCO Mutual Insurance

PEMCO Mutual Insurance is the Defender of Your Northwest, providing auto, home, renters and boat coverage. We are consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee expertise and social impact. Our Mutual Good programs raise the achievement levels for youth in education; build stronger, greener environments; and increase safety at home, on the road and at play. Our mission: Free our communities to worry less and live more. To learn more, visit www.pemco.com.

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