The first official demonstration of a self-driving vehicle on New Zealand roads is scheduled to take place in Tauranga in November.
Fiat self driving car
Car manufacturer Volvo will demonstrate the technology on a 10-15km stretch of public road in Tauranga as part of the national Trafinz transport conference.
The demonstration is expected to take place on November 18 once planning and approvals for NZTA regulatory requirements have been completed.
The New Zealand Traffic Institute, Volvo, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and the Ministry of Transport have come together to show how an autonomous vehicle will handle New Zealand’s road conditions.
The vehicle would self-drive using sophisticated technology to navigate the road with driver interaction only required at the halfway point of the trip, which will occur in a real-world environment with other motorists.
Research shows around nine in every ten crashes are caused by driver error and distraction, but self-driving cars could potentially greatly reduce the number of collisions on New Zealand roads as they don’t get distracted.
Proponents claim self-driving cars could also improve efficiency, reduce congestion and improve productivity by reducing daily commute stresses for workers and intercity travelers while also providing environmental benefits by reducing pollution.
The planned demonstration has been welcomed by Transport minister Simon Bridges, who claims the government is ensuring New Zealand stays at the forefront of transport innovation with recent reviews of the rules relating to autonomous vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and Small Passenger Service operators respectively.
“Autonomous vehicles will be a big part of the future of transport and offer potential safety, efficiency and environmental benefits,” he says.
“Testing in New Zealand also enables an understanding of how the technology responds to the New Zealand environment, and allows our transport sector to gain skills in deploying and managing new technology.”
The New Zealand Transport Agency and Ministry of Transport are working with Volvo and Trafinz to ensure the trial will operate within the law, including appropriately managing any safety risks.
ENZ
