DfT Transport Technology Tracker
The Department for Transport (DfT) has commissioned Ipsos to undertake a series of surveys to measure public awareness, attitudes and behaviours in relation to existing and emerging transport technologies.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has commissioned Ipsos to undertake a series of surveys to measure public awareness, attitudes and behaviours in relation to existing and emerging transport technologies. In Autumn 2024 and Spring 2025 (Waves 12 and 13) Ipsos implemented a UK-wide, push-to-web survey methodology with a postal option, Waves 7-11 (2020-2023) were conducted online through Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel and Waves 1-5 were (2017-2020) were biannual face-to-face omnibus services.
Some of the findings from the Spring 2025 wave were as follows:
- Awareness and knowledge of electric vehicles remained high at 96% among those aged 16+ in the UK, with environmental benefits cited as the main advantage, yet concerns persist around charging infrastructure and range capabilities.
- There were mixed attitudes to self-driving vehicles, with concerns about safety, loss of control, and job impacts outweighing perceived benefits such as reduced driver fatigue.
- There was almost universal awareness of drones in the UK (96%) with strong support for emergency applications. Concerns centred on privacy and security.
- Awareness of sustainable aviation fuels was moderate (at 55%), with limited support for higher fares to cover sustainable fuel costs despite broad environmental benefits.
- Battery-powered and hydrogen-powered planes have moderate awareness (at 49%), with significant concerns about new technologies, including battery life and safety risks like fire or explosion.
- More than half (61%) of the UK public aged 16+ support traveling on ferries powered by low carbon fuels, though willingness to pay extra depends on the cost increase.
- While general AI awareness is high (at 94%), only 50% said they were knowledgeable about its transport applications. Efficiency and traffic management improvements were cited as benefits by 18%, although concerns about errors (15%) and job impacts (14%) existed.
