Public perception of Autonomous Vehicle Safety in San Francisco Factsheet

Introduction 

The safety performance of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is fundamental to protecting all road users, but public perception of their safety is equally important, as it shapes trust, acceptance, and willingness to share the road with this technology. The city of San Francisco provides a unique environment to study safety perceptions of AVs for different road users given that they have operated on city streets for years, allowing residents to experience substantial amounts of interactions with this technology. The UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) has designed and compiled a survey conducted by Ewald & Wasserman from May to June 2025 to better understand the perception of AVs in San Francisco across various user groups including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Because the study focused on people with firsthand experience, respondents who had not interacted with an AV at least once were excluded, so the results cannot be used to estimate how many San Franciscans encounter AVs in general.

Key findings 

Overall Trust in AV Safety

graphic showing a city scape and the American flag, along with a bar chart. For more details please see summary below.

Summary - Overall Trust in AV Safety 

While 61.2% of residents trust AVs to be safe, 29.6% remain unsure and 8.6% express fear. Of all respondents, 60.3% demonstrate trust in AVs compared to the 27.0% found in AAA's 2025 national survey (AAA Foundation, 2025). 

Passenger Experience

Infographic around Passenger Experience. For more information, see details below.

Summary - Passenger Experience 

An overwhelming 91.5% of passengers felt safe or very safe on their most recent ride, and 72.1% rate AVs safer than human drivers. Additionally, 37.9% of repeat passengers report feeling safer over time.

AV Interaction Frequency

Pie chart detailing AV interactions of all respondents versus passengers. For more information, see details below.

Summary - AV Interaction Frequency

Of all 811 survery respondents, 62% encounter AVs daily and 22.1% report seeing them 2–3 times per week. Among the 376 interviewees who have been passengers, 75.8% have ridden in an AV more than once.

Top Public Concerns

Infographic detailing for a person falling, gears breaking, a siren and a lock. For more details see summary.

Summary - Top Public     Concerns 

Concerns focus on unpredictable human behavior (55.4%) and system or software malfunctions (53.5%). Additionally, 40.3% of respondents worry about emergency vehicle response, while 37.9% highlight cybersecurity and data privacy risks.

Driver Experience Sharing the Road with AVs

Infographic around Driver Experience Around AVs. For more information, see details below.

Summary - Driver Experience Around AVs

50.4% of drivers give AVs more space than human-driven cars and 38.8% find them more predictable than human drivers. Additionally, 24.8% of drivers report having experienced a close call with an AV.

Areas for Safety Improvement

Infographic with Areas for Safety Improvement. For more information, see details below.

Summary - Areas for Safety Improvement

In terms of areas of improvement, respondents prioritized transparency in safety data and real-world testing (31.2%), followed by calls for better education on capabilities (13.6%) and stronger regulation and oversight (12.2%).

Trust Differences by Road User Group

Infographic around different road user experiences. For more information, see details below.

Summary - Trust Differences by Road User Group

Trust varies heavily by road user group, with 72.5% of passengers trusting AVs compared to 51.0% of pedestrians and cyclists. The group with the least amount of trust were other drivers sharing the road with AVs, which accounted for 47.1%.

Pedestrian & Cyclist Perspective

Infographic around Pedestrian & Cyclist Perspectives around AVs. For more information, see details below.

Summary - Pedestrian & Cyclist Perspective

While 50.7% feel comfortable at intersections, 45.9% act more cautiously around AVs. Furthermore, 53.5% say lack of eye contact affects comfort, and 64.3% want more visible intentions and pedestrian-focused safety features.

Understanding the Study’s Limits

While this study provides an overview of AV safety perception in San Francisco across various road users, it cannot determine whether certain experiences and increased interactions with AVs actually cause changes in trust or comfort. Passengers report feeling safer interacting with AVs than drivers do, but it’s unclear whether riding in an AV actually increases that sense of safety, or if people who already trust AV technology are simply more likely to ride. The study only included participants who had interacted with an AV either as a passenger, pedestrian or cyclist, or other driver on the roadway. As a result, proportions presented reflect the share of this sub-population. The study reflects a particular moment in San Francisco’s AV deployment and perceptions will likely shift over time. Future research tracking the same people over time or comparing cities at different deployment stages could help clarify how these experiences influence trust.

About Us

UC Berkeley SafeTREC is a leader in roadway safety research, training, and policy. We are affiliated with the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and the Institute of Transportation Studies. Our mission is to inform decision-making and empower communities to improve roadway safety for all.

Acknowledgments

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Questions & Additional Information 

To receive a copy of the survey report or if you have any further questions on the study or its findings, please contact UC Berkeley SafeTREC at safetrec@berkeley.edu.

Topics