Driverless pods could ease Lake District congestion
ROADS in the Lake District are notorious for being clogged with visitors. But the beautiful rolling scenery could one day be punctuated with futuristic driverless “pods”.
State-of-the-art self-driving vehicles are being trialled as a potential solution to gridlock near Grisedale or a bottleneck at Buttermere.
The Unesco World Heritage Site has launched a feasibility study examining how the 18million visitors to the area each year will get around in the future. The electric vehicles, while are already used to ferry passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5, use cutting-edge technology to transport people in an environmentally friendly and safe way. Onboard computers can ensure the vehicle brakes faster and anticipates changes in road conditions that the human eye could not.
Richard Leafe, the Lake District National Park chief executive, said: “We’re constantly looking at new ways to balance the needs and enjoyment of people as they visit and move around the Lake District, whilst being mindful of the impact on the environment.
“Driverless pods are a really interesting concept and while this is not necessarily something that will be seen on the Lake District streets soon, it’s vital we explore a range of solutions to sustainable travel.”
Julian Turner, the chief executive of Dudley-based pod makers Westfield Technology Group, said: “We’re identifying possible routes for the pod and talking to the local community about how we could meet their transport needs.
“We’re particularly looking forward to hearing feedback from the local residents and visitors.”
The feasibility study ends in June and will help the park authority decide if the pods have a future in the area and which routes would be viable.