The Government has today announced plans to test self-driving cars on UK roads later this year.
The plans come as part of a £28 billion road strategy unveiled by ministers, with Oxford University researchers set to carry out trials of the ground-breaking technology. They have already tested a car on a private road in a science park, but the Department for Transport has now given the green light for trials on roads with other traffic.
Experts say that the vehicles have the potential to transform motorists’ lives by allowing them to work or relax whilst on the road. Additionally, the technology could open the door to sick and disabled people getting behind the wheel, while it could also prevent thousands of deaths by controlling the distance between vehicles.
Initially the cars will be tested on lightly used rural and suburban roads, and although the models will drive themselves there will be a backup driver in the vehicle as a safety precaution.
Google, using a Toyota Prius, has tested the technology on 100,000 miles of roads in San Francisco; Oxford scientists will be using a Nissan Leaf. The vehicle will be capable of driving along a predetermined familiar route, while the driver will be able to take control by tapping on the brakes.
Furthermore, major roads will be widened and resurfaced under the new Government plans in an attempt to reduce traffic noise.
The Transport Secretary, Patrick Mcloughlin, had this to say: "Our major roads are vital to the prosperity of our nation, connecting people to jobs and businesses to markets. They carry a third of all traffic and two thirds of all freight traffic but in recent decades we have failed to invest properly in them.
"That underinvestment has seen us fall behind many of our economic competitors. Since 1990, France has built more motorway miles than exist on our entire network, while Canada, Japan and Australia all spend four times more on their roads than we do."
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