Self-driving cars could lend '£8bn boost to UK economy'

The findings tie in with Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT) Connected Car conference on Thursday, which explores how the technology will transform the industry and the opportunities it presents. "The benefits of connected and autonomous vehicles are life-changing, offering more people greater independence, freedom to socialise, work and earn more, and access services more easily," said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the trade body, which predicts that self-driving cars will be commonplace by the 2030s. "Fully autonomous cars will be a step change for society, and this report shows people are already seeing their benefits. The challenge now is to create the conditions that will allow this technology to thrive." The research also found that six out of 10 people believe self-driving cars will improve their quality of life, with this rising to seven out of 10 for people aged 17 to 24.