Driverless cars will be road-tested on local roads in November this year, and RAA is excited to see what results the trials will reveal.
RAA General Manager Public Affairs Penny Gale said she’s proud that South Australia will be the first state in Australia to put this technology to the test.
“By 2020 all cars that come off the production line will have some ability to drive themselves, and we need to prepare,” said Ms Gale.
“By applying international research in these trials, we can work towards understanding what is required to make driverless technology suitable for our local road conditions and to keep road users safe.”
The Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative will be led by the ARRB Group, the national independent road research agency, and the State Government, with support from a number of key stakeholders including RAA.
“This type of technology has the potential to be a real win for road safety and mobility in South Australia,” said Ms Gale.
“Removing the need for a driver will open up a whole range of transport opportunities for many of our members, particularly people with disabilities and the elderly.”
“While removing the reliance on human behaviour will undoubtedly save lives.”
RAA understands many of its members are hesitant in embracing the concept of a driverless car, after a survey revealed just 23 per cent said they’d feel safe in a car that drives itself.
“This trial will help us gauge the opportunities and issues road users might face, and help us better prepare our members for the future of transport that is rapidly approaching,” said Ms Gale.
RAA believes driverless cars have the potential to solve many of our state’s transport issues, particularly congestion on our city streets.
“Who knows, one day not too far from now, common problems like finding a car park or dealing with peak-hour congestion could become a thing of the past, and Adelaide will have led the way by embracing and testing this new technology,” said Ms Gale.
“Hopefully our involvement in the trial will also put the state in a great position for South Australian companies to create business opportunities in this area.”
The driverless vehicle trials will coincide with a Driverless Vehicle Conference to be held in in Adelaide from 7-8 November.
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