Road Ahead Clear for Self-Drive Cars

Where they were once the stuff of science-fiction, self-driving cars are rapidly becoming a reality. Several car firms are testing autonomous vehicles, which they say could improve road safety and ease congestion.

Published

7 months ago

Categories

Technology

Topics

Future Tech

Places

United States of America

Companies

Aktiebolaget Volvo, Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag, Google, Ford

Transcript

SCRIPT: It's science-fiction come true: while the driver sits back and relaxes, the car takes charge. Self-driving vehicles have already made the leap from the lab to the test track, and could soon be a common sight on our roads. SOUNDBITE 1 Linda Wahlstrom, SARTRE Project leader, Volvo (English, 15 secs): "It feels like a bit of science-fiction. This is what you dreamt about as a child, that you would be able to go in autonomous-driven cars, and now I'm actually experiencing it. It's awesome!" Volvo's plan involves so-called road trains, where drivers opt to join a convoy, and their car is then controlled by a lead vehicle - which is driven by a human being. But theirs is merely one of several schemes being tested. BMW, Ford, Continental and others are all researching autonomous vehicles. Even Google's got in on the act - using numerous sensors and google maps technology, its cars have already been tested in three US states. The advantage of Volvo's scheme is that it relies on existing technology found within modern cars. The company says road trains could be up and running in as little as ten years. But for that to happen, there would need to be a change in European legislation. SOUNDBITE 2 - Michael Jennings, Spokesperson of Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn in charge of Research, Innovation and Science for the EU (English,9 secs): "Certainly it's the case that the law differs between various countries, and this is up to the member states to set their own laws, including on things like speed limits as well." An estimated 90 percent of road accidents are caused by human error, and proponents of self-drive cars say they would dramatically improve road safety and ease congestion. But what of the romance of the open road, and putting the pedal to the metal? SOUNDBITE 3 Matt Burt, Deputy editor, Autocar magazine (English, 21 secs): "Maybe there'll be a divergence of people who just want to get from A to B, and they'll use driverless cars and the road-train products, and there'll be people who want to be behind the wheel, want to feel the engine, want to be in control of the throttle and the brake. But the romance I don't think will ever fully die, I think they'll always be cars angled towards people who are interested in cars." With cars already able to park themselves, and operate in cruise control, increased autonomy in cars seems all but inevitable. Yet despite the impressive technology, or the undbouted appeal of being able to check emails or read the paper while stuck in traffic, many drivers will take some persuading before agreeing to let go of the wheel altogether. SHOTLIST: VARIOUS DATES AND LOCATIONS Source: AFPTV unless otherwise stated **NO RESALE FOR NON-EDITORIAL PURPOSES** -VAR test drive of Volvo road trains (Source: Volvo) -SOUNDBITE 1 (Source: Volvo) -VAR test drive of Volvo road trains (Source: Volvo) -WS German autobahn (Source: BMW) -Man in front seat of self-driving BMW (Source: BMW) -VAR Google driverless car (Source: Google) -VAR test drive of Volvo road trains (Source: Volvo) -SOUNDBITE 2 -Man in self-drive car (Source: Continental) -VAR Google driverless car (Source: Google) -Matt Burt driving round a corner -SOUNDBITE 3 -Google car parking (Source: Google) -VAR test drive of Volvo road trains (Source: Volvo)