If I were to ask you how to predict and prepare for the near future, how would you do this? Last week was the second of the Roads to Tomorrow Local Authority workshops, so far there have been nearly 40 councils that have taken part mainly from across the NW and Midlands (we have a NE workshop in a couple of weeks, then London in the new year). The insights so far are truly fascinating and will help DfT enormously! The challenge of existing infrastructure and new technologies or emerging technologies and how we practically get this onto a network, is one that more and more suppliers and councils will grapple with.
I feel with the Roads to Tomorrow workshops, listening to councils, meetings with LCRIG member Zenzic, the Kings Speech, the Automated Vehicle Bill and the announcement on Friday from the Treasury that “the government has today committed to extend the Connected and Automated Mobility Research and Development programme with up to £150 million of funding between 2025-26 and 2029-30. This will help the UK secure first-mover advantage in the deployment of self-driving vehicles and services.” – the dial is certainly moving forward in preparation for an Autonomous future. I have added the link for the announcement on Friday which should be of interest to both our supply chain members and to councils too – but is one that people may have missed because it came from The Treasury.
The drive (excuse the pun) towards more autonomous vehicles on local (and strategic) roads is getting closer, not least by the momentous Government announcements I mention earlier. Although I suspect the same take up will perhaps be similar to EV take-up but with different infrastructure challenges. That being said, the legislative environment for “any” type of autonomy is going to be vast.
So, it feels apt to be writing all this after I had hoped to be taking a trip on the autonomous bus in Scotland this week with STREETWISE colleagues from across the government nations. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to on our site visit to the National Control Centre. However, we did discuss the importance of technology that facilitates an environment where autonomy can happen.
Part of my role at LCRIG is not just to be thinking about the here and now but also the “almost, near” future and how we help councils and supply chain members prepare for this – yes there will be greater thinkers than me thinking of future scenarios. But we’ll have to take that image and distill it to practical support for now (and near future), sharing lessons from early CAM projects, hence conversations with Zenzic. So going back to my original question, I think planning for the near future can be just as challenging as a future 50 years away.
Photo: STREETWISE site visit to Traffic Control Centre, Transport Scotland.