Mott MacDonald has published a report titled “Planning for connected autonomous vehicles” which seeks to inject some pragmatism into the discussion about their introduction.
The report, aided by crowdsourcing insight from 90 participants worldwide, is effectively a help manual for local authorities, transport planners and engineers that sets the scene, defines problems, asks penetrating questions and makes recommendations under 10 headings.
- Ensuring safe and acceptable rules of the road
- Shaping network efficiency
- Guarding against adverse consequences for public/sustainable transport
- Ensuring CAV developments enhance mobility for all
- Identifying infrastructure implications and rethinking asset management
- Understanding and influencing acceptability and adoption
- Managing demand through changing travel behaviour
- Managing the transitional period to a CAV-rich future
- Handling uncertainty in forward planning mobility
- Tracking developments through knowledge exchange
Paul Hammond, Mott MacDonald’s global practice leader for infrastructure development and economics said: “We live in a highly connected society with more information at our fingertips than ever. However, just as ‘big data’ does not translate inevitably to ‘greater knowledge’, access to vast quantities of information does not immediately or automatically furnish us with better insight.”
In a very short space of time, a burgeoning volume of information and commentary about CAVs has become available. The key problems are, first, how to keep abreast of the latest thinking and cut through the hype. And, second, how to make robust decisions in the face of so much uncertainty. The “Planning for connected autonomous vehicles” report aims to address this.
Paul continues: “Dazzling visions for a future of connected autonomous vehicles are plentiful. Incisive questions and pragmatism are significantly less so. Our new report introduces balance by addressing these ten key issues that everyone should keep front-of-mind.”
Download “Planning for connected autonomous vehicles” here.