Motorists left 'unconvinced' by self-driving cars despite Labour pushing billions into revolutionary tech

The findings follow a recent move by Uber, which announced that it was preparing to trial driverless taxis in the UK next year, with London set to be the first city to take advantage of the scheme.

Labour has also announced plans to fast-track self-driving vehicle pilot programmes to Spring 2026 ahead of the full implementation in 2027.

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The research revealed mixed opinions surrounding the technology, with 31 per cent of respondents saying they wouldn't feel completely comfortable in a driverless taxi but might still consider using one. A further 12 per cent said they needed more information before making a choice.

Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said: "The survey findings paint a clear picture; while there is undeniable excitement about the potential of autonomous vehicles and driverless taxis, a significant portion of the UK population remains unconvinced.

"The data from our survey speaks for itself, with the vast majority of respondents still very much on the fence about the appeal of being driven by an algorithm as opposed to taking the wheel themselves."

Age appeared to be a significant factor in attitudes towards autonomous vehicles, with 54 per cent of drivers aged 65 and older stating they would never consider using a driverless taxi.

In contrast, younger drivers aged 18 to 24 have shown greater openness to new technology.

Among this age group, 42 per cent indicated they wouldn't feel completely comfortable in a driverless taxi but would still consider using one.

Regional variations also emerged from the survey, with drivers in the North East and South West expressing the strongest scepticism, with 64 per cent and 57 per cent respectively stating they wouldn't consider using a self-driving taxi.

The capital faces particular challenges, with 38 per cent of London drivers saying they wouldn't feel comfortable at all using a driverless taxi.

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The report detailed how just 29 per cent of Londoners might consider using one, while only 15 per cent said they would feel comfortable and have no issue hailing an autonomous vehicle.

These figures emerge as Tesla's high-profile Robotaxis undergoes public trials in Austin, Texas, following the growing popularity of driverless vehicles in the US.

Conway noted: "For companies like Tesla, trust in the tech will be key. Hearts and minds will need to be won in order to overcome such early resistance."

while interest in self-driving vehicles has yet to peak, the Government hopes the technology will create 38,000 jobs and contribute £42billion to the UK economy by 2035.

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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "The future of transport is coming. Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world leaders in new technology.

"With road safety at the heart of our policies and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry, and drive innovation to deliver our Plan for Change."

The new technology will begin trials ahead of the full implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act, which is set to become law in the second half of 2027.

The law will require self-driving vehicles to reach certain safety thresholds, as well as being closely linked to normal driving conditions, before being allowed on UK roads.