Driverless Lorries to be tested on UK Roads

Published Date: 8th Mar 2016

Driverless Lorries are to be tested on UK roads; Chancellor George Osborne is expected to confirm the plans in his Budget speech this month.

The Department for Transport said the UK would "lead the way" in testing driverless "HGV platoons". The technology enables vehicles to move in a group, using less fuel, it said.

The Times newspaper has reported trials would take place on the M6 in Cumbria later in 2016, with vehicles in convoy headed by a driver in the leading lorry. The tests would take place on a quiet stretch of the motorway, it said. The UK newspaper said the plans could result in platoons of up to 10 computer-controlled Lorries being driven metres apart from each other. It also said the chancellor was preparing to fund the trials as part of plans to speed up lorry deliveries and cut congestion.

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Edmund King, boss of the AA, said while such a scheme might work in other countries, he was doubtful it was right for the UK.

"The problem with the UK motorway network is that we have more entrances and exits of our motorways than any other motorways in Europe or indeed the world, and therefore it's very difficult to have a 44 tonne 10-lorry platoon, because other vehicles need to get past the platoon to enter or exit the road."

He said the "only feasible place" to trial the plans would be the M6, north of Preston towards Scotland, because it "tends to have less traffic and there are slightly fewer entrances and exits".

A spokesman from the Department for Transport said: "New technology has the potential to bring major improvements to journeys and the UK is in a unique position to lead the way for the testing of connected and driverless vehicles.

"We are planning trials of HGV platoons - which enable vehicles to move in a group so they use less fuel - and will be in a position to say more in due course."