Polis launches discussion paper on automated vehicles

Polis, the network of European cities and regions that works on innovation in local transport, has launched a discussion paper on automated road vehicles. The paper offers the perspective of city and regional transport authorities on how developments in automated vehicles will affect urban and regional mobility.

The paper challenges the automation community to develop products and services that serve the communities they will be used in. While automated cars may bring some benefits, there is also the possibility that their widespread introduction in urban areas could lead to increased congestion, negative environmental impacts and negative health impacts, if walking and cycling are discouraged.

With this discussion paper, Polis and its members are bringing the views of city and regional transport authorities on automated vehicle developments to policy makers, industry and researchers, in particular the European Commission and national governments. 

Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive at Transport for Greater Manchester and president of Polis, said that policy makers do not give enough attention to how automated vehicles on sustainable could affect mobility.

‘Given the potential impact of self-driving cars in urban areas, local and regional authorities and public transport providers need to play a more prominent role in the development of policy around AVs.’

Karen Vancluysen, Polis Secretary General, says it is important to make a distinction between the different levels of automation.

‘Headlines often fail to make the distinction between automating certain driving functions in specific environments and automating the full driving task in any environment. The latter is the most talked about in studies and  in the press, yet it is the one that is the most difficult to achieve, particularly in an urban environment.’

Please access the paper here.

Source: www.polisnetwork.eu