Driverless taxis face public trust hurdle as London trials expand

London’s driverless taxi ambitions are facing a major test of public confidence, with almost two-thirds of people expressing concerns about using autonomous vehicles currently being trialled in the capital.

Research from the Startline Used Car Tracker found that 65 per cent of respondents remain hesitant about travelling in driverless taxis, highlighting the challenge facing technology companies seeking to bring autonomous transport into everyday life.

Safety remains the biggest obstacle. Nearly half of those surveyed said they were concerned about a driverless vehicle crashing into other cars or pedestrians.

A third said they would prefer a human operator to be present in case something went wrong during a journey, while almost as many worried that an autonomous taxi could become stranded in traffic.

The findings suggest that the challenge for the industry is not simply developing the technology, but persuading passengers to trust it.

Some consumers also remain concerned about the experience of travelling without a driver. Fifteen per cent said they valued local advice from a cab driver, while 11 per cent said they enjoyed the social interaction of speaking with a driver.

A smaller group raised practical concerns, with six per cent wanting assistance with luggage or other belongings.

However, the research also points to a potential market for autonomous taxis. Almost one in five respondents said they trusted the technology, while others highlighted potential benefits including competitive pricing, avoiding interaction with drivers and greater privacy.

The results come as technology firms and transport authorities push ahead with trials of autonomous vehicles, arguing that driverless services could improve efficiency and offer a new model for urban mobility.

But the research suggests that winning over passengers will require more than technical progress.

For the driverless taxi industry, the next challenge may be less about teaching cars to drive themselves — and more about convincing humans to get inside.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Trials involving a number of companies including Waymo and Uber are in various stages of progress in London at the moment, with planned launches of their services later this year.

“Our research show there are all kinds of doubts in the minds of potential users, mostly around safety, the reliability of the technology and the lack of a driver or other person being present if they need help.

“Some of these objections will probably evaporate if the service is launched and people see driverless taxis being used successfully but until then, they have many different concerns.”

Also, the Startline Used Car Tracker showed that despite widely held concerns, 55% of people are likely to try a driverless taxi at least once to see what the service is like.

Paul said: “People might be apprehensive of autonomous cabs in all kinds of ways but a majority are sufficiently curious to at least try the service.”

The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 317 consumers and 70 dealers were questioned.