Les voitures autonomes autorisées d'ici à la fin de l'année
Les voitures autonomes, véritable serpent de mer, devraient débarquer en Europe prochainement, avec l’autorisation depuis le 1er janvier 2021 de la commercialisation de certaines fonctionnalités de véhicules autonomes de niveau 3. C’est l’Angleterre qui pourrait être le premier pays à accueillir ces derniers sur son réseau routier. Après de nombreux échanges avec les constructeurs et les assurances, le ministère des Transports britannique finalise ainsi un plan permettant aux voitures équipées d’un "système automatisé de maintien de voie" de pouvoir circuler de façon autonome à la fin de l’année. Lire l'article complet sur l'Automobile magazine.
Un encadrement très strict de cet usage
The Department for Transport said automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) would be the first type of hands-free driving legalised. The technology controls the position and speed of a car in a single lane and it will be limited to 37mph (60km/h). But insurers have warned the government's definition of ALKS as "self-driving" is misleading.
The government confirmed that drivers will not be required to monitor the road or keep their hands on the wheel when the vehicle is driving itself. But the driver will need to stay alert and be able take over when requested by the system within 10 seconds. If a driver fails to respond, the vehicle will automatically put on its hazard lights to warn nearby vehicles, slow down and eventually stop. Lire l'article complet sur BBC.
L'appel à la prudence
Transport minister Rachel Maclean said it was a "major step for the safe use of self-driving vehicles in the UK, making future journeys greener, easier and more reliable". "But we must ensure that this exciting new tech is deployed safely, which is why we are consulting on what the rules to enable this should look like."
Matthew Avery, director of research at the insurer-funded Thatcham Research, said: "There is still a lot of work needed though by both legislators and the automotive industry before any vehicle can be classed as automated and allowed safely on to the UK roads."
"There are still gaps in how this technology detects and stops if the vehicle is involved in a collision. There are still question marks over how drivers will be fully informed how these systems work. More needs to be done to rigorously test these systems before they are used on UK roads." Lire l'article complet sur the Guardian.
La Grande-Bretagne veut s'imposer comme un acteur sérieux
"Automated driving systems could prevent 47,000 serious accidents and save 3,900 lives over the next decade through their ability to reduce the single largest cause of road accidents – human error" , Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), said.
"Technologies such as ALKS will pave the way for higher levels of automation in future – and these advances will unleash Britain’s potential to be a world leader in the development and use of these technologies, creating essential jobs while ensuring our roads remain among the safest on the planet." Lire l'article complet sur iNews.
