Semi-automated trucks take to European roads

Six European truck manufacturers will bring platoons of semi-automated trucks to public roads, crossing borders from various European cities in order to reach their final destination of the Port of Rotterdam on 6 April. The overall objective of this European Truck Platooning Challenge is to accelerate the introduction of truck platoons by putting the subject high on the agenda of EU policy makers.
June 8, 2016 Read time: 1 min

Six European truck manufacturers will bring platoons of semi-automated trucks to public roads, crossing borders from various European cities in order to reach their final destination of the Port of Rotterdam on 6 April. The overall objective of this European Truck Platooning Challenge is to accelerate the introduction of truck platoons by putting the subject high on the agenda of EU policy makers.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (6175 ACEA), truck platooning can help make road transport safer, cleaner and more efficient in the future. It said cooperation is vital to prevent countries from creating a patchwork of rules and regulations, which could hinder investments in automated and connected vehicles.

However, reacting to the announcement that the UK will start platooning trials, 6985 Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said the technology had to prove itself and questioned: “Does it make operational sense and, critically, will it be safe on UK roads with so many junctions?”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Sweating the asset
    May 22, 2012
    Technological progress has done many things for the good of mankind and, as is evident from this issue of ITS International, it has become fundamental for those needing to ‘sweat the asset’. You will not find that expression anywhere else in this issue, but you will discover a lot pointing to the crucial and expanding role for ITS in getting more out of existing infrastructure.IBM associate partner Michael Noblett puts this into context in our special smart cities feature starting on page 50. Noblett refers
    Read More
  • UK to lead the way in testing driverless cars
    July 20, 2015
    The UK government has launched a US$30 million competitive fund for collaborative research and development into driverless vehicles, along with a code of practice for testing. The measures, announced by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Transport Minister Andrew Jones, will put the UK at the forefront of the intelligent mobility market, expected to be worth US£1.4 trillion by 2025. The government wants bidders to put forward proposals in areas such as safety, reliability, how vehicles can communicat
    Read More
  • Transport in the round
    October 13, 2015
    The ITF’s Mary Crass tells Colin Sowman why future transport demands will require governments to overcome the silo effect of individual single-modal authorities. The only global multimodal transport policy organisation,” is how Mary Crass describes the International Transport Forum (ITF), which is housed at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). As head of policy and summit preparation at the ITF she says: “All other organisations are either regional or have a modal focus, we cove
    Read More
  • Intertraffic Mexico 2022: better & safer road infrastructure urgently needed
    October 10, 2022
    Road safety organisation Anasevi highlights key issues for Intertraffic Mexico event
    Read More

Highlighted Content