Project gets under way to try out driverless cars in three UK cities

A PROJECT believed to be the UK’s first multi- city trial of self- driving cars has been launched.

Six autonomous cars are now travelling a nine- mile route between Oxford’s main station and Oxford Parkway station.

They are fitted with Level 4 autonomous technology, which means they are capable of performing all driving functions under certain conditions.

But a driver who can take over the controls will sit in the vehicles during the tests.

The Government- backed Project Endeavour is being led by Oxfordbased firm Oxbotica.

It will be expanded next year to include Greenwich in south- east London as well as a third city, which has not been specified.

Oxbotica senior vice president of external affairs Graeme Smith said: “Project Endeavour is the UK’s first multi- city autonomous vehicle demonstration. It aims to create a flexible, scalable model that will make the wide- scale deployment of autonomous vehicles quicker, easier and more efficient, while maintaining the highest safety standards.

“This project is about far more than just technology. It is about helping our cities and local authorities prepare for autonomy and to begin thinking about how to deploy it in such a way that helps urban planning and reduces congestion.

“The UK’s towns and cities differ greatly, each with their own quirks, from varying road design to urban planning.”

He added: “That’s why we’re running trials in three major UK cities, so that we can design autonomous vehicle services that address all the complexities of urban life and be scalable to diverse locations across the UK and further afield.”

Project Endeavour will run until autumn 2021.

In August, the Department for Transport announced a consultation on proposals to make hands- free driving legal on UK roads.

The RAC has reported that the majority of the British public remain unconvinced over the current safety credentials of driverless cars.

Autonomous technology has taken significant steps over the past few years, with various global trials under way, but a large proportion of adults in the UK still harbour reservations.

The AA says driverless cars could mean a reduction in traffic accidents by using new technology.

If autonomous cars reduce accidents from human error, this could make car insurance cheaper.

This might then also encourage those drivers put off by high premiums in the past to choose autonomous vehicles.