Driverless vehicles consultation ‘a positive step’
The Freight Transport Association has welcomed a consultation by the Department for Transport (DfT) into issues surrounding driverless vehicles and their uptake on UK roads. While passenger cars are the main focus, among the additional items covered in the DfT document is HGV platooning, a topic of increasing focus both in the trade press and mainstream media.
The document defines platooning as “two or more vehicles connected with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, allowing them to effectively operate as a single unit – accelerating and braking simultaneously”.
“While operating in this mode, because there is no delay between vehicles when braking, the headway between each vehicle can be reduced to a few metres, allowing the vehicles to benefit from reduced aerodynamic drag and therefore increased fuel efficiency,” the consultation suggests.
“Platooning could also free more road space and improve traffic flow.”
While platooning, vehicles’ positions and speed are controlled using ‘smart’ vehicle technologies such as automated emergency braking systems (AEBS), lane keep assist systems (LKAS) and advanced cruise control (ACC), which are linked to a driver-operated lead vehicle.
This means that the driver of any trailing vehicle can temporarily delegate control to the lead driver, allowing platoons to operate over long distances and separating when necessary – for example, on severe gradients.
The document contends that initial tests around the world “have proven the functionality and safety of these systems, as well as the fuel-saving potential.”
DfT highlighted its investment in a platooning trial later in the year which will assess the benefits of the tehcnology. It anticipated that no changes to domestic regulations would be necessary for trials, “as long as the driver of each vehicle in the platoon remains alert and ready to take control in the event of platoon separation, or to avoid an incident.”
The department added that it may implement changes to the Highway Code in order to support commercial platoon use.
Christopher Snelling, FTA head of national and regional policy, said: “Driver aides and moves towards fuller automation are the most promising routes we have for a step-change in road safety. The emissions and road use efficiency benefits are also potentially substantial, so updating regulations to enable all these technologies to be developed as quickly as possible is a good move.
“There are challenges in making effective use of platooning in the UK. And all these concepts and technologies need to be thoroughly tested and their real world impacts measured before they are taken up on a wide scale basis…
“But the reality is that over 80 per cent of the goods the UK needs to function each day are moved by road, and we need to work to maximise the efficiency of its performance if we are to reduce emissions and improve transport safety as much as possible, and as quickly as possible.”
The government consultation can be found here.
