While most African and Middle Eastern country have severe traffic and road safety problems and while Egypt cannot even solve its Mehwar and Daeri Ring Road accidents, we find Sweden and Volvo Cars entering a new era of road safety as the Swedish car manufacturer will play a leading role in the world’s first large-scale autonomous driving pilot project in which 100 self-driving Volvo cars will use public roads in everyday driving conditions around the Swedish city of Gothenburg.
The ground-breaking project ‘Drive Me – Self-driving cars for sustainable mobility’ is a joint initiative between Volvo Car Group, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, Lindholmen Science Park and the City of Gothenburg.
The ‘Drive Me’ project is endorsed by the Swedish Government. The aim is to pinpoint the societal benefits of autonomous driving and position Sweden and Volvo Cars as leaders in the development of future mobility.
“Autonomous vehicles are an integrated part of Volvo Cars’ as well as the Swedish government’s vision of zero traffic fatalities. This public pilot represents an important step towards this goal,” says Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Car Group. “It will give us an insight into the technological challenges at the same time as we get valuable feedback from real customers driving on public roads.”
Focus areas:
The ‘Drive Me’ project will focus on a number of areas, such as:
◾How autonomous vehicles bring societal and economic benefits by improving traffic efficiency, the traffic environment and road safety
◾Infrastructure requirements for autonomous driving
◾Typical traffic situations suitable for autonomous vehicles
◾Customers’ confidence in autonomous vehicles
◾How surrounding drivers interact smoothly with a self-driving car
The project will commence in 2014 with customer research and technology development, as well as the development of a user interface and cloud functionality. The first cars are expected to be on the roads in Gothenburg by 2017.
