Nearly 70% of drivers say they're afraid of fully self-driving cars, according to a new AAA survey — up from 55% a year ago. About a quarter say they're unsure, while just 9% say they trust them.

Why it matters: Carmakers are rushing to add automation to new models. But this survey shows they have lots more work to do to convince drivers the features are safe.

Driving the news: The spike is likely tied to recent headline-grabbing incidents involving assisted-driving technology, as well as the proliferation of such systems more broadly.

• The survey also captures sentiment from drivers who aren't adopting automated driving technology themselves but have concerns about sharing the road with others who are.

The intrigue: AAA also found that a sizable chunk of drivers misunderstands current self- and assisted-driving systems' capabilities.

• The survey found that nearly 1 in 10 drivers believe they can buy a vehicle that drives itself while they sleep.

Reality check: No such vehicle is on the market.

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