Lords autonomous investigation continued

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will continue its inquiry investigating driverless vehicles next Tuesday, when it’s expected to hear evidence from the Department for Transport, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The committee will aim to get a better understanding of how driverless vehicles fit into wider transport strategy, and the socio-economic aspects of the deployment of self-driving cars.

Speaking from 10.40 will be professor Sarah Sharples, professor of Human Factors, Faculty of Engineering, Nottingham University, professor Natasha Merat, professor in Human Factors of Transport Systems, Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds, and Andy Graham, consultant, ITS United Kingdom

The committee is likely to ask how might information be obtained on drivers’ attitudes to using, and buying, automated vehicles or sharing the streets with them, and how much is known and understood about the behaviour and interaction of people with the technology used for autonomous vehicles?

They will be followed by Rt Hon John Hayes MP, Minister of State, Department for Transport, and Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The committee is expected to ask them to outline the benefits and drawbacks expected from the deployment of highly automated or autonomous vehicles in all sectors in the UK; how the government can ensure that the possible increased convenience of autonomous vehicles does not lead to an increase in journeys by car at the expense of active modes such as walking and cycling; and whether there is a case for extending the role of Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to include other government departments to ensure knowledge gained in one sector is shared for the benefit of all?