News / Transport
Bristol to trial driverless cars
Bristol is to be a test-bed for driverless cars after funding was secured by a consortium made up of the city council, universities and businesses.
The Bristol trial, which will start next January, will look at how the public reacts to so-called autonomous vehicles along with the legal and insurance aspects.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said: “Bristol has a deserved reputation as an innovative city and test-bed for new technologies. The novelty of Bristol’s approach is our focus on public-private-citizen partnerships, championing experimental solutions through the deployment of information and communications technology and digital technologies in a people friendly manner.”
Similar trials will take place in Greenwich in South East London, Milton Keynes and Coventry.
The decision was announced by the quango Innovate UK, after George Osborne’s Autumn Statement yesterday.
The chancellor also announced an additional £9m in funding for the work, adding to the £10m that had been announced in July.
Bristol will host the Venturer consortium, which aims to investigate whether driverless cars can reduce congestion and make roads safer.
This consortium is made up of engineering consultancy Atkins, Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, insurer AXA, Williams Advanced Engineering, Fusion Processing, Centre for Transport and Society, UWE Bristol, University of Bristol and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a collaboration between the University of Bristol and UWE Bristol.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The UK is a world-leader in the development of driverless technology, and today’s announcement will see driverless cars take to city streets from January 1. This not only puts us at the forefront of this transformational technology but it also opens up new opportunities for our economy and society.
“Through the Government’s industrial strategy we are backing the automotive sector as it goes from strength to strength. We are providing the right environment to give businesses the confidence to invest and create high skilled jobs.”
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