Driverless cars: pain before gain


Driverless cars could make traffic congestion worse before they make it better, a study by the DfT has revealed. This is because the cars won’t be able to perform at their best until they begin to outnumber traditional cars – and until that day comes they’re likely to drive slowly and over-cautiously.

The performance of driverless cars relies on the way vehicles around them behave, meaning that many advantages of AV technology won’t be felt for years, the report says.

Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: "There's a prize to be had in terms of swifter, safer journeys, but the transition to that world will be challenging.

"There are around 32 million conventional cars on the UK's roads and as driverless cars come in, traffic flow could initially get worse rather than better, potentially for many years.”

Congestion will be a major factor as more people, such as the elderly or infirm, take to the road in AV vehicles. The DfT suggests that this congestion won’t ease until at least half the cars on the road are autonomous. 

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