How’s My Driving? - Safe Driving Blog Tips
Road collision rates sliding back towards pre-pandemic levels
UK roads could see self-driving vehicles rolled out by 2025 thanks to new government plans. Vehicles including cars, coaches and lorries with self-driving features could be operating on motorways as early as next year. This could create up to 38,000 job, bring around £42 billion to the economy and improve road safety.
This plan is backed by a total of £100 million, with an additional £34 million dedicated for research to support safety developments and inform more detailed legislation. It’s suggested this may include researching the performance of self-driving cars in poor weather conditions, as well as how they interact with pedestrians, other vehicles, and cyclists.
This month also saw the announcement of £20 million set aside to support self-driving services and businesses. Examples may include shuttle pods to assist deliveries and moving luggage through airports.
Many feel that self-driving vehicles could revolutionise public transport and passenger travel, especially for those who don’t drive. Long term it could provide a better connect rural communities and reduce road collisions caused by human error.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
“The benefits of self-driving vehicles have the potential to be huge. Not only can they improve people’s access to education and other vital services, but the industry itself can create tens of thousands of job opportunities throughout the country.
Most importantly, they’re expected to make our roads safer by reducing the dangers of driver error in road collisions.
We want the UK to be at the forefront of developing and using this fantastic technology, and that is why we are investing millions in vital research into safety and setting the legislation to ensure we gain the full benefits that this technology promises.”
Read more about the latest government announcement here.
22 August 2022