No, it isn't an April Fool. It is An interesting question which has been posed by a local resident, one which local AM, Russell George, was only too keen to take up with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure, at monthly questions in the National Assembly for Wales - who will decide to reverse when two driverless cars meet on a single track lane in Mid Wales?
Mr George took the opportunity of raising the issue with the Cabinet Secretary after being contacted by a resident who raised the potential road safety issues which could result in deadlock on Mid Wales' many lanes and single track roads when driverless cars start appearing in the future.
After raising the unusual issue on the floor of the National Assembly, which caused a degree of amusement from other Assembly Members, Mr George said:
"While it can be quite amusing to think about who might reverse on a single track lane if two driverless cars happen to meet, the underlying issue could be quite a serious one.
"If we start to see an influx of driverless cars in the future, our roads are going to have to be able to cope with these kinds of road safety issues which may occur.
"I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has said that he will look into this issue and undertake further testing as well as considering the opportunity to upgrade some of our major trunk roads in the first instance to ensure that there are dedicated lanes for autonomous vehicles in anticipation for their appearance in Mid Wales."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Record of Proceedings - Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure - 29/03/17
Russell George
7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the use of autonomous cars in mid Wales?
Ken Skates
Yes. Current legislation permits the testing of autonomous vehicles across the UK. We recognise the potential that autonomous vehicles may have in improving road safety across the country and we’re maintaining a watching brief.
Russell George
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Well, driverless cars may eventually, of course, make an appearance on mid Wales’s roads in increasing numbers. As a result, what assessment has your department made of the use of autonomous cars, especially on minor roads and single-track roads, and especially in the circumstances where one of them requires you to decide who should reverse?
Ken Skates
I’ve not reached the point of determining who is responsible for reversing. [Laughter.] But what we have been assessing is the potential of installing designated autonomous vehicle lanes on major trunk roads. I think this would give us an opportunity to capture a greater degree of investment in this particularly important sector of the automotive economy. Such investment is costly; it’s not inconsiderable, but it would give us an opportunity, for example, to test autonomous vehicles in a very safe way, including their ability to reverse when they meet head-on with other autonomous vehicles.