A survey has show 57% of Americans are behind the use of autonomous vehicles to support the elderly and those with disabilities, validating an ongoing campaign by The Coalition for Future Mobility
5G technology could help to power self-driving cars
More than half of Americans would support autonomous vehicles because of the potential they hold to help the elderly and people with disabilities, according to a survey.
A report by tech market researcher Morning Consult found that 57% of respondents would be likely or very likely to back driverless cars due to the “transformational” effect it could have on vulnerable people.
There were almost 40 million US citizens registered with a disability in 2015, and currently there are about 46 million people aged over 65 in the country – with that figure expected to more than double by 2060.
Self-driving vehicles can ease the stress on these demographics by helping them get to work, school or the doctor’s office, giving them greater independence and control over their lives.
President of the National Federation of the Blind, Mark Riccobono, welcomed the study.
He said: “Blind people are able to live independent, productive lives with the assistance of alternative tools and techniques.
“For example, we use braille to gain information, as we recently demonstrated by sending braille materials to members of congress.
“Currently, however, the fact that we must rely on mass transit, ride-share or other services for transportation limits our flexibility and can present barriers to opportunity.
“Autonomous vehicles have tremendous potential to remove those barriers and expand the independence of the blind and others with disabilities.”
Autonomous vehicles and The Coalition for Future Mobility
The Coalition for Future Mobility is a collective of 35 stakeholders calling for greater road safety, cleaner air, and enhanced independence and self-sufficiency – ideals in line with the attitude of Americans revealed in Morning Consult’s study.
Home to a range of groups representing those with disabilities, the elderly and veterans, part of its mandate is to advocate for the testing of and deployment of self-driving vehicle technology.
It is currently embarking on a campaign to see the introduction of autonomous vehicles in America to help improve road safety, reduce congestion and generate environmental benefits, in addition to providing greater independence to the groups it represents.
The coalition recently added the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) Education Foundation to its list of members.
USPAACC Advocacy, founded in 1984, is the largest and most established non-profit organisation representing the Pan Asian American business and professional community in the US.