With new public transit pilot programs being used in Dubai, UAE would be one of the first countries to adopt self-driving vehicles technology. But how our residents think about it?
According to a survey carried out by YouGov’s Omnibus Service, 58 percent population feel “enthusiastic” while around 57 percent feel “Unsafe” traveling in a driverless car because they are afraid of technology failure, software hack and mechanical breakdown.
The prospects of self-driving vehicles in the UAE and other GCC nations are very promising, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar where women can’t drive and go out on their own.
Toney, a U.S. military staffer has shown his insight on the benefits of autonomous cars in the GCC. He thinks self-driving vehicles can be helpful in situations where male escorts (necessary in SA and Qatar) don’t have license or are can’t drive for some reason.
Furthermore, people have different opinions regarding the utilization of their time in a driverless car. According to the survey, 44 percent people said they like to spend their time talking on phone, 39 percent want to listen the radio, one-third of the respondents like to converse with other passengers, while another one-third just want to close their eyes and rest.