RSMA warns on AV markings

Trade body wants ring-fenced UK government money to maintain high quality road markings
By Adam Hill April 28, 2022 Read time: 1 min
Trade body suggests UK government is 'focusing on everything except the most critical element of the drive towards the operation of semi/fully autonomous vehicles - road markings' (© Andreykuzmin | Dreamstime.com)

Upkeep of road markings is going to be vital for the safe running of autonomous vehicles (AVs), according to one trade body. 

The warning from the Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) in the UK follows amendments to the Highway Code designed to prepare for the introduction of AVs.

“If government is serious about being a world-leader in autonomy, it must provide ring-fenced funding for road marking infrastructure," says RSMA chief executive Stu McInroy. "If such actions are not undertaken, this government’s ambitions for autonomous vehicles will remain just that – an ambition.”

Likening road markings to the "rails of the road", he insists that they must be well-maintained and high quality in order for any AV roll-out to work.

"The government, in announcing regulatory changes to allow the use of certain technologies while AVs are operating, appears to be focusing on everything except the most critical element of the drive towards the operation of semi/fully AVs - road markings," adds McInroy.

“For semi/fully AVs to operate without input from the driver, the vehicle must be able to read the road; this cannot be done if the road markings are not maintained to an appropriate standard."

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