The research forms the first findings from the company’s Annual Report on Company Motoring, which surveyed over 1,000 employees with either a company or privately owned car.

The survey analysed the current use and attitudes towards greater car automation and found that almost two in five (38%) drivers said they would be in support of the car taking over from the driver in designated lanes on motorways. These findings complement the UK government’s support for driverless cars with its £100m of funding announced in the Budget to focus on developing driverless technology.

Research also shows that drivers are more open to new technology that is currently being introduced to new cars. Nine out of 10 (85%) company car drivers said they supported the introduction of warning systems that sense when a driver is losing attention. Three-quarters of respondents (75%) said the introduction of automatic braking systems that sense and respond to an imminent accident is a good thing, demonstrating that drivers recognise the benefits of technology that can help make driving safer.

Additionally, nearly seven in ten (68%) are in support of automatic steering systems that prevent cars wandering out of their lane, showing a positive attitude towards systems that are already available on some vehicles.

Tim Porter, managing director, Lex Autolease, said: “The research shows that drivers are coming round to the idea of driverless cars although they are still in their infancy. It is therefore realistic to expect awareness of this innovation to increase, especially when systems are proved safe and the legislation is changed to accommodate this technological advancement. We see the future of driving as exciting, as new technology takes the next leap.”