Self-driving cars unlikely to boost human productivity

Self-driving cars unlikely to boost human productivity

Despite expectations, autonomous vehicles are unlikely to increase occupant productivity for about 62 percent of Americans, says a new study from the University of Michigan.

Hereês why: Twenty-three percent have said they would not ride in driverless cars, 36 percent would be so nervous they would only watch the road, and about 3 percent would frequently have motion sickness.

The study raises two other concerns. Passengers in autonomous vehicles could be seated in positions and postures that occupant protection systems are not set up for. And untethered objects being used to improve productivity, such as laptops, could become projectiles during a crash.