IN light of the tragedy involving a self driving Uber that hit and killed a pedestrian in Arizona this month , the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has said it will continue running automated vehicle (AV) trials.
In 2016, the RAC, supported by the City of South Perth, launched the first AV trial in Australia with the RAC Intellibus.
Since the trial commenced more than 10,000kms have been travelled in driverless mode.
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READ NOWRAC general manager of public policy Anne Still said the incident in Arizona was very sad and that her thoughts were with those affected.
“We recognise there is always an element of risk when testing new technology such as this, which is why safety is, and will continue to be, the primary consideration throughout our own automated vehicle trials in Perth,” she said.
“Comprehensive risk mitigation and safety measures are embedded into every aspect of the trial, including human chaperones who are present on every trip and who have been specially trained to ensure safety of the participants, other road users and pedestrians.”
In addition to the Intellibus, the RAC late last year announced its plans to test driverless passenger vehicles with French AV manufacturer Navya.
Those trials are expected to start next month.
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