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Phoenix666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

A new study by researchers at insurer The Hartford and MIT's Age Lab [csmonitor.com] found that 96 percent of drivers 50 to 69 would consider buying a car that included safety features such as a rear backup camera or blind spot warnings, but were less interested in buying a fully autonomous car.
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The researchers also examined self-driving cars, showing a video of the technology to participants. But, they found, some drivers were skeptical about the potential of fully autonomous cars, mirroring similar concerns about partially automated systems such as parking assistance and the adaptive cruise control technology.

“I think they were concerned that you could become too reliant on them,” Ms. Olshevski says. “It’s almost like a rite of passage that you learn to parallel park, and I think the idea that you don’t learn those skills, and you don’t use those skills, they were a little worried about that, particularly in urban areas.”

While 70 percent said they would consider test-driving a self-driving car, only 31 percent said they would consider purchasing one, even if it was the same price as a regular car. There was also a gender divide, with men more likely than women to both test-drive and purchase a self-driving car.

Features aimed mostly at improving safety – such as back-up cameras, blind spot warning systems, and smart headlights – received more praise overall.

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