Driving-Tests.org

  • Aspiring Drivers Weigh Automotive Revolution

    Driving-Tests.org surveys 158,000 of its visitors about their views on electric cars and self-driving cars.

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    Fair Use Statement: We grant permission to use the materials found on this page freely. When doing so, we ask that you attribute the creators by linking to Driving-tests.org where the survey was conducted.

Survey Questions

In March 2017, as part of its ongoing marketing campaign, Driving-Tests.org had held a series of discussions with journalists from automotive, business, and high-tech media on what they would most like to know from aspiring drivers. In March and April, we surveyed tens of thousands of visitors to our website. Visitors surveyed ranged in age from children under 13 to seniors. Based on ideas suggested by Fred Lambert, the Editor-in-Chief of Elektrek, we asked our student drivers the following four questions:

question one

Would you choose an electric vehicle over a comparably priced gas-powered vehicle?

Of the four questions in this survey, this was the one whose visitor responses were most striking. Visitors to Driving-Tests.org who responded to our survey overwhelmingly said no. Visitors in all age groups rejected electric vehicles by at least a two-to-one margin.

question two

How concerned would you be about riding in a fully self-driving car?

There were strong opinions in both directions. A plurality of respondents stated that they would be extremely concerned, and a somewhat smaller percentage of respondents stated that they would not be concerned at all.

question three

Will the benefits of self-driving vehicles outweigh their risks and costs?

The percentage of respondents who stated that the benefits of self-driving cars would not outweigh the negatives was larger than the percentage who stated that the benefits would outweigh the negatives.

question four

Which manufacturer do you think will sell the most electric vehicles and self-driving vehicles in the next 10 years?

More respondents chose Tesla than any other auto manufacturer. Tesla was followed by Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, and Ford in that order. A plurality of teenagers believed that Tesla would sell more electric cars and self-driving cars than other manufacturers, but pluralities of older age groups tended to favor Toyota.

  • Key Findings

    • "NO!" to electric cars

      By at least two to one, respondents in all age groups stated that they would not consider purchasing an electric car over a comparably priced gasoline-powered vehicle.

    • Strong opinions about self-driving cars

      Respondents had strong opinions when asked if they would be concerned about riding in a fully self-driving car.

    • Benefits of self-driving cars would not outweigh their risks and costs

      The percentage of respondents who stated that the benefits of self-driving cars would not outweigh the negatives was larger than the percentage who stated that the benefits would outweigh the negatives.

    • Teenagers believe Tesla will sell more electric cars and self-driving cars than other manufacturers

      Older age groups tended to favor Toyota.

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