Driverless cars may soon run on Dubai roads

A delegation from the RTA has visited a number of European countries to examine the latest models undertaken by smart cities across the globe in the field of smart mobility.

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has commissioned a study on using driverless vehicles as the latest technology in the field of smart mobility solutions to be considered for use in Expo 2020.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said: 'Such electricity-powered smart vehicles have a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions, saving fuel consumption, and improving the smart mobility, which in turn contributes to transforming Dubai into a smart city.'

'The RTA has established a team for studying the use of autonomous cars to map out a strategy and a work plan for addressing the latest developments in this field, and identify the standards and specifications required in these vehicles along with the needed infrastructure and safety legislations. In this context, the RTA has approached a host of international manufactures of smart vehicles to examine technological alternatives on offer, and plan for real-life experiments for using such vehicles in Dubai under the supervision of the RTA,' he said.

A delegation from the RTA has visited a number of European countries to examine the latest models undertaken by smart cities across the globe in the field of smart mobility. It also visited some businesses and manufactures of smart vehicles to check the best international practices of this line of industry, and review the latest studies and researches published by key specialist international research centres.

RTA's delegation visited World Expo Congress in Barcelona 2013 and 2014, which included a number of aspects relating to the use of smart driverless vehicles to serve smart cities and other European cities.

'Driverless vehicles are the latest developments of the global smart mobility systems and this technology is based on electric vehicles fitted with smart sensors to enhance the safety element and avoid crashes,' he explained.

The smart vehicle has multi-operational techniques as it can operate within moving vehicles environment without necessarily requiring connectivity with the control centre. Examples of this include ceasing motion in the event of traffic disruption, and perceiving the road condition as well as traffic signals, and pedestrian movement among others. The vehicle can also be operated via an automated internet-based control system where it can be fully controlled by a control center without requiring a driver.

Smart vehicles can be programmed to lift passengers by moving in pre-designated lanes to feed public transport stations and link with vital centers with the aim of alleviating the need of private vehicles, mitigating road congestions, easing the huge demand of parking spaces, and eliminating environmental pollution and the waste of resources. Smart vehicles will provide mobility solutions to all users, even those who are unable to drive, which will ultimately ease the mobility of Dubai residents and visitors, and improve on the mobility of services on offer, added Al Tayer.

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