The CIHT Learned Society Lecture 2016 heard from a panel of experts on autonomous vehicles. In the week Volvo Cars announced trials of autonomous vehicles in London, attendees heard how the UK was a world leader in supporting development of this technology.
Insight into this fast moving and fascinating development for the transport sector was provided by:
Iain Forbes, Head of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Professor Nick Reed from TRL involved with some of the trials in the UK
Anders Eugensson, Volvo Cars Director of Governmental Affairs
CIHT have released a podcast of the discussion by these renowned experts and it is available to listen here.
A summary of the podcast is below:
Iain Forbes outlines how the UK Government wants to take advantage of the potential benefits: improved road safety, the ability to run networks more efficiently, opening up transport options to people who have few, and the ability to give people back time that they lose driving.
Given Volvo Cars has announced trials it was interesting to hear that the UK and America are supportive of trialling and testing autonomous vehicles but that this is not the case in other countries.
Anders Eugensson, was very complimentary about the UK regulatory environment and said: ‘Some European governments are working towards making this a very difficult process of getting the right vehicles in the market. They are putting in barriers. I think this is the most threatening situation.’
The podcast examines how the UK has managed to create the right environment for autonomous vehicles, the trials and research that are underway, the conditions and innovation required and how authorities can support the development?
Professor Nick Reed said: ‘It’s exciting to be involved at the heart of these activities and to see how some of the sorts of predicted benefits from autonomous and connected vehicles can be achieved in the real world’.
With such focus, money and media attention, autonomous vehicles are firmly on the agenda. When customers might be able to buy them is another question but Anders was positive: ‘We think this is going to play out soon…it’s going to be an additional cost and if you get something additional then you are going to buy it’.
The interview comes from the latest in the CIHT podcast series where Justin Ward speaks to leading individuals in the transport world. To find others and to listen click here.
Notes for editors
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