Autonomous vehicles are here. The self-drive food delivery vehicle in the picture above was recently spotted on the streets of Helsinki, going quietly about its business. Of course, despite being a capital, Helsinki is a relatively calm city, with largely uncrowded pavements and streets. It was interesting to see how the vehicle would stop at a crossing, indicate if it needed to turn off and go only when the green pedestrian light was showing. But how would they manage in a busy city centre like Malaga, of for that matter London!
So it was interesting to read in the Guardian that London will shortly be introducing self-driving taxis. Apparently Uber and London-based autonomous technology developer, Wayve, have been granted the first self-drive minicab licences in London, albeit with a human safety driver in place, for now. Their plan is to start in service “later this summer” before a full public launch.
TfL, the capital’s licensing authority, has granted 15 private hire vehicle licences to Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with Wayve’s artificial intelligence driving software, with surround cameras and radar. TfL has confirmed that they reach the required safety standards.
But, a TfL-licensed private hire driver will sit in the driver’s seat during trips, so as to step in if there is a problem. Clearly the next step, is to operate the taxis without a driver, but this requires a different licence, known as an automated passenger services permit, which will require a further application – when the time is right.
TfL have said it would carefully monitor the use of the vehicles. And their spokesperson reinforced their main concern: “Safety is our top priority”.
Read the article here.