The UK’s Transport Network is launching an event that will feature live demonstrations from global experts in connected and autonomous vehicle development, to assess, debate and discuss how trials and research of CAVs should be conducted.
CAV Scotland 2018 will be held at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, alongside Traffex Road Expo Scotland, on October 31 and November 1, 2018.
Although the regulations and policies around CAVs are not devolved, the Scottish government wishes Scotland to be at the forefront of developments in this area, offering high-quality test and demonstration opportunities to developers and industry.
Scotland has a wide geographic and socio-economic diversity and can offer opportunities to test and develop CAVs in a range of environments, including some very remote rural areas where infrastructure and communications are very different from large metropolitan areas.
The Scottish government’s Programme for Government sets very clear objectives for Scotland in delivering a low-carbon economy. This includes commitments to low- and ultra-low emission vehicles, phasing out of the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032 and the introduction of an ‘electric highway’ along the A9, demonstrating that electric vehicles offer important advantages to motorists in rural as well as urban Scotland.
The cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson MSP, said, “The deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles in Scotland will bring transformative change to the way we travel and work, as well as having a positive impact on the economy, the environment and safety.
“Scotland is very much open for business when it comes to trialling these vehicles, with our trunk road network providing a wide range of environments as a diverse testing ground.
“The CAV Scotland event is an excellent opportunity for leading motor manufacturers, suppliers of autonomous vehicles, regulators, innovators, business leaders and academics to debate Scotland’s role in developing and deploying this exciting new technology.”
Adrian Tatum, events producer and head of content for Transport Network, said, “There has been significant development with CAVs across the globe and now it is time to step back and assess all this and decide where we need to go next. It is clear there are still many unanswered questions that surround CAV development, not least how we prepare our roads ready to accept autonomous vehicles.
“There are also questions around insurance, legal issues and public confidence. The CAV Scotland event is the perfect opportunity to answer some of those questions and demonstrate why Scotland is the ideal place not only to continue to debate but to host further necessary trials and research.”
