Could you imagine driving around the island’s roads without needing to control your car whatsoever?

Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson previously told the Examiner that he thinks the island should be considered in becoming the first place in the world to trial self-driving cars.

We went to Strand Street, Douglas, to ask residents whether they are for or against the idea.

’Self-driving cars? I thought it would be something I would never live to see the day of,’ said Creena Gandy, 28, from Colby. ’I don’t know if I’d trust it to be honest, but it would be very handy and an easy life for me getting into work and being able to check my phone. Would that be legal?’

’Marine Drive and the Sloc... I wouldn’t want to be in a self-driving car in those places.

’Would it not be better to trial something like that on a motorway than bendy roads where cliffs are? Maybe they should trial it at Jurby airway initially.’ Peel resident Angus Jolly, 55, believes ’there are better places to be testing for it’.

’Island roads are challenging enough. There is also the concern about bicycles. How are these cars going to overtake cyclists when a normal person sometimes struggles?’

Despite concerns, he is impressed with how far technology has come having experienced his friend driving him in a vehicle which had intelligent cruise control.

’We were on a dual carriageway and he just took his foot off the controls coming up to a roundabout. It started slowing down, put the brakes on and then accelerated round the corner. It was surreal. All he had to do was steer,’ he said.

’These cars are intelligent enough to understand what’s going on. It doesn’t slam the brakes when it realises "oh there’s something there!".’

Marc McCabe O’Kelly, 21, from Douglas, said: ’Current technology is in its early days so you would need straight roads because these cars cannot do turns. I don’t think it would work here, but it would be nice if it did.’

His brother, Ruairi, 19, thinks that the tests would be possible here and could lead to improving roads island-wide. He added: ’Self-driving cars cannot be worse than some other drivers on the island.’

Mother, Jan McCabe, mid - 40s, said: ’I think having self-driving cars here could improve driving and parking in the island. The only issue would be how it would cope during the TT when there’s more traffic.’

Father,Bernard O’Kelly, early 50s, said: ’It could be tested on Marine Drive. They’ve tested every other car there.’

Jan continued: ’It’s probably dangerous. I think it should be tested where there’s the biggest concentration of traffic. We’re going to be debating about this all night!’

Gwen Dube, 28, from Douglas, said: ’I think it will be good. I’ve been doing driving lessons in manual, but I’m going to go automatic because I’ve been struggling. People like me who are finding it difficult to grasp manual can go in these cars.

’This would be a great opportunity for people with disabilities who would find it difficult to drive.

’The island’s a small place with not many people knowing of the Isle of Man. It would be great exposure and good for the island to try something different.’