INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
According to a motor trade report, more than 95% of the vehicles on the road in
the UK will be connected vehicles by 2025
Scotland is "open for business" to develop driverless vehicles, says cabinet
secretary Michael Matheson.The minister wants the country to spearhead the testing and development of self-driving technology.Transport
Scotland's new "Roadmap For Scotland" sets out plans to put Scottish business at the forefront of innovation.One of its first projects is a
fleet of autonomous buses running from Fife and Edinburgh, via the Forth Road Bridge.A consortium of partners from government, industry and
academia are collaborating in the design, development and operation of the full-sized fleet.The plan is designed to keep Scotland at the
forefront of developments in the connected and autonomous vehicle (Cav) industry.The Cav Roadmap sets out the future vision for how Scotland
can benefit from and contribute to the sector.According to a recent report by The Society of Motor Manufacturers - Traders (SMMT), more than
95% of the vehicles on the road in the UK will be connected vehicles by 2025.Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Autonomous bus services are already in operation in some countries, including this one in Shenzhen, China
2020 will bring a
major milestone when Project Cav Forth will trial the first autonomous full-sized bus fleet in passenger service after receiving £4.35m
part-funding from the UK government.Cav Scotland, a Transport Scotland conference and event, will bring together global experts to assess
latest developments and discuss future trials and research
Transport Scotland will also work closely with the Department for Transport, other road authorities and European counterparts to determine
regulations for adoption of Cav technologies on the Scottish road network.Transport Scotland has already completed a trial of roadside
beacons, capable of transmitting messages into an app displayed on a smart phone mounted in the vehicle
The successful trial involved sending directional static journey time information when passing the point on the network where the equipment
Image copyrightCav ReportImage caption
Levels of driving automation now and in the future
The report
says the diversity of Scotland's strategic road network offers opportunities for testing and trialling connected and autonomous vehicles and
the technologies that will enable them
Michael Matheson, Cabinet secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: "I am delighted to launch the Cav Roadmap and
deliver one of the key commitments from our programme for government."It sets out how Scotland can play a key role in this fast-moving
industry, as well as the steps we need to take to unlock these opportunities."I intend Scotland to be at the forefront of these technologies
We are open for business to test, demonstrate and pilot autonomous vehicle trials."The deployment of connected and automated vehicles has
the potential to bring transformative change to peoples' lives - not just in how we travel, but in how we work, where we live, the
environment, and safety."
