This is scientific Americans 60 second science. I'm Erica Barris. Got a minute?

Advocates for self-driving cars love to tout the benefits the cars would bring, such as fewer accidents and less

congestion. Another alleged value of being a passenger rather than a driver is

more productivity. You could work rather than concentrate on driving.

But most people might not spend their new found free time

and self-driving cars whittling down their to-do lists.

That's according to a study by Michael Civac and Brian Schottle

at the University of Michigan's Sustainable Worldwide Transportation Program.

The researchers surveyed people in the US, Australia, China, India, Japan, and the UK.

And about 62% of respondents said self-driving cars would not make

them more productive.

For one thing, 23% of the groups that they won't ride in a self-driving car in the

first place.

And then there are the people who get motion sickness.

They obviously can't work.

Plus, another 36% said they'd be too concerned to do anything but watch the road.

The researchers also noted that most trips average 19 minutes,

not really long enough to get anything truly substantial done, or to

catch some quality zeez. Of course the level of apprehension people experience in

self-driving cars or about getting into them may change in the long run. But this

study is another reminder that there's still a lot to be figured out before

automatic autos rule the roadways.

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