British motorways are set to play host to a convoy of driverless lorries as part of a series of new tests, according to the Department for Transport.
Each set of lorries will be led from the front by a truck driven by a human driver, with as many as nine driverless HGVs following close behind on less busy stretches of UK motorway.
According to the DfT, the aim is to find out what effects the autonomous lorry convoys have on surrounding traffic and also how well they could work on Britain’s road network.
Driverless lorries could reduce accidents
Eventually, it’s believed that each convoy could reduce harmful emissions and fuel consumption, as well as reduce the number of accidents HGV vehicles are involved in each year.
Whitehall ministers want the UK to be at the forefront of driverless vehicle technology, and the new autonomous lorries are the latest in a string of driverless car testing schemes planned this year.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “New technology has the potential to bring major improvements to journeys and the UK is in a unique position to lead the way for the testing of connected and driverless vehicles.”
Dates and locations to be determined
The spokesperson added that while no exact dates or locations have yet been set for the driverless lorry tests, they will be decided in due course.
Neil Greig, the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ director of policy and research, said: “The announcement raises a lot of questions, and the only way to answer them is with a trial.
“A lot of people are very worried about the HGV trials, their main concern is when they’re about to join the motorway, they will have to negotiate a wall of up to 10 HGVs in the inside lane.
“A pilot trial will need to happen in order to address these concerns. We await more details later this year of autonomous car trials, and this will give us more information about what to expect.”
