Published just days after the Queen’s Speech announced a Modern Transport Bill that would “ensure the UK is at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport, including autonomous and electric vehicles”, the survey by vehicle CCTV specialist SmartWitness found that 62% of drivers said they would feel less safe on the roads alongside autonomous vehicles.

And of the 1,000 motorists surveyed, almost three-quarters (72%) said they could foresee there would be added complications to resolving insurance disputes involving autonomous cars.

Nine out of ten (91%) support the compulsory introduction of camera technology in all autonomous vehicles so there would be court-admissible proof of exactly what had happened in the event of an accident.

SmartWitness chief executive Paul Singh said: “It is incredibly exciting that Britain is taking the lead globally in the development of autonomous cars.

“But these new findings from the SmartWitness survey show that there are still real fears from ordinary motorists about what will happen if they are in a collision with an autonomous car.

“Around 40% of all motor insurance claims are disputed, but how do you resolve a dispute when you can only hear evidence from one of the drivers involved?

“The simplest way to eliminate the problem is to make camera technology compulsory in all autonomous vehicles. This will provide court-admissible proof in the event of an accident and help to alleviate motorists' fears about the introduction of driverless cars.

“It is fantastic that the Government is embracing this new technology and powering forward, but proper safeguards need to be put in place to protect all motorists.”