Transport strategy must look at all modes, including autonomous vehicles and driverless cars
The Transport Select Committee has today published its Motoring for the Future report calling on the Government to introduce a visionary UK strategy to unlock benefits of new motoring technologies.
Commenting, Dr Phil Blythe from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) said: “When looking at an integrated transport strategy, it must cover all modes including public road vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and freight.
“It is vital that the strategy looks to the future, taking on board electric vehicles, levels of automation and driverless cars, as they will require an innovative approach to the regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks that govern them.
“Our future roads and transport networks will include multiple technologies and infrastructure networks and different usages for urban and rural users.
“The Government must look at the future of motoring in phases, from maintenance to current networks to resilience of new networks and the opportunities this may bring.
“The Transport Systems Catapult is a good example of government support for UK business to exploit new motoring technologies. It is important to sustain this focus for future UK technology innovation.”
Notes to editors
§ Interview opportunities are available with IET spokespeople from a broad range of engineering and technology disciplines including cyber-security, energy, engineering skills, innovation, manufacturing, technology, transport and women in engineering.
§ The IET is one of the world’s largest engineering institutions with nearly 160,000 members in 127 countries. It is also the most multidisciplinary – to reflect the increasingly diverse nature of engineering in the 21st century. Energy, transport, manufacturing, information and communications, and the built environment: the IET covers them all.
§ The IET is working to engineer a better world by inspiring, informing and influencing our members, engineers and technicians, and all those who are touched by, or touch, the work of engineers.
§ We want to build the profile of engineering and change outdated perceptions about engineering in order to tackle the skills gap. This includes encouraging more women to become engineers and growing the number of engineering apprentices.
§ For more information, visit www.theiet.org
