Mazda has outlined its plans for the driver to remain central to the driving process as it rolls out semi-autonomous technologies focused on providing back-up safety.

Seventy one per cent of British drivers still want to be able to drive even if self-driving cars become commonplace, says Mazda

Despite advances by a number of carmakers in autonomous driving, Mazda has said that the driver will still play a vital role in its cars, backed up by co-pilot tech that will be available when needed to avoid accidents.

The carmaker also reiterated that it’s aiming to make its Co-Pilot Concept semi-autonomous driving technologies standard by 2025, as it focuses on customers who truly enjoy the experience of driving.

This is backed up by new research carried out by Ipsos MORI for Mazda that found nearly three-quarters (71%) of British drivers will still want to be able to drive when autonomous cars become widely available.

The research polled 11,008 adults across key European markets, including 1,002 in the UK, with the findings showing an average of 66% of drivers want to remain behind the wheel in the future.

And the survey found no evidence of greater support for self-driving cars in younger age groups across Europe as a whole: 18-24 year olds (33%) were no more likely to welcome self-driving cars than 25-34 year olds (36%) or 35-44 year olds (34%).
Mazda UK managing director Jeremy Thomson added: “Our aim is a motorised society free of traffic accidents, and we will help achieve this by continuing to advance the safety fundamentals – driving position, pedal layout, visibility and our Active Driving Display, and we will also continuously develop, update and make standard our advanced safety features. Additionally, we aim to make the Mazda Co-Pilot Concept, which uses autonomous driving technologies to allow drivers to enjoy driving with peace of mind, standard by 2025.”