Roads rated for making driverless trucking pay

Highland capital’s main link is UK’s fourth most suitable

The M6/M74 corridor between Manchester and Glasgow has been identified as the most valuable route for driverless lorries in the UK.

Firms would maximise profits by deploying autonomous HGVs on the 215-mile Anglo-Scottish route because of its long distance and relatively low congestion, according to transport information firm Inrix.

The second most feasible corridor would be the A1 between Sheffield and Edinburgh, followed by the M5/A38 route between Plymouth and Birmingham.

And the fourth most commercially viable route would be the A9 between Edinburgh and Inverness via Perth.

The M25 London orbital motorway was selected as the road where driverless lorry technology could lead to the biggest safety improvement, due to having significantly higher levels of dangerous incidents per mile than any other route.

Coventry-Manchester on the M6 was in second place.

The report said highly automated vehicles “are poised to dramatically alter the long-haul trucking sector”. It predicted the cost of the technology will decline as it is developed, and stated that it could provide “valuable savings” for UK firms due to the shortage of qualified HGV drivers and uncertainty over the movement of people after Brexit.

Platoons of self-driving lorries are expected to be trialled on England’s motorways by the end of the year. Up to three wirelessly connected HGVs will travel in convoy, with acceleration and braking controlled by the lead vehicle.

With lorries driving close together, the front vehicle pushes air out of the way, making the other vehicles more efficient and lowering their emissions.

The UK Government announced in 2017 it would provide £8.1 million of funding towards the trials.

All lorries will have a driver ready to take control if required. The five most commercially viable corridors for autonomous freighting in the UK are said to be:

1. M6/M74 ManchesterGlasgow

2. A1

Edinburgh

3. M5/A38 Birmingham

4. A9 EdinburghInverness

5. M4 Swindon-Swansea Sheffield- Plymouth-

LOOK, NO HANDS: Platoons of up to three wirelessly connected HGVs will be trialled on England’s motorways by the end of the year