Autonomous driving: German citizens share mixed feelings and concerns!

Autonomous driving: German citizens share mixed feelings and concerns!

What does Germany think about autonomous driving? A recent survey shows that opinions on this are divided. According to the results published on stadt-bremerhaven.de, many drivers and passengers expect a significant change in road traffic. But the mixed feelings cannot be overlooked. While 50% of respondents hope that autonomous driving will reduce traffic noise, 47% believe it could lead to smoother traffic flow. In the area of ​​safety, expectations are also differentiated: 43% expect more safety for other road users, but only 29% see an improvement for the vehicle occupants themselves.

What is particularly exciting is the fact that only 37% of participants believe in increasing driving comfort. Skepticism about technical reliability is causing unrest all the more: 63% of those surveyed are concerned about technical problems, 55% fear possible hacker attacks on vehicles. In addition, 73% consider the legal framework to be uncertain, which makes the introduction of autonomous vehicles in Germany even more difficult.

Technological challenges

The challenges are not only emotional, but also technological. According to Deloitte, autonomous driving is a key future issue for the automotive industry, but there is no uniform framework for the technological framework. There is currently a lack of standardization trends for the different driving levels, and the regulatory framework for training, testing and improving the algorithms leaves a lot to be desired. Without machine learning and a stable mobile network connection such as 5G, it becomes difficult to implement complex functions.

Another point that has come up again and again in recent years is the legal requirements for automated driving. Since May 2021, autonomous vehicles have been allowed to use public roads in Germany, but only in certain, previously approved areas. Those responsible must now issue the necessary regulations to further specify the new legal framework. Despite initial approvals for highly automated vehicles for certain highway sections, robot taxis in particular still face an uncertain future.

Economic aspects and investments

The economic issues should not be neglected either. According to the survey results, 42% of respondents believe that investment costs in transport infrastructure will be high, while 32% believe that autonomous mobility may be too expensive overall. Private interest in autonomous driving could also be slowed by unclear investment returns. Nevertheless, 31% of those surveyed seem to hope to gain more time for entertainment or bureaucratic errands while driving, which inspires the desire for a modern approach to leisure and work.

For the automotive industry, this means it must demonstrate a good hand in developing and implementing autonomous technologies in order to meet public expectations while overcoming legal and economic hurdles. The race for the future of driving has begun, but drivers' opinions and expectations are as diverse as Germany's roads themselves.