Stakeholders in mobility need to consider their position and potential benefits of automation. What is their vision, desired direction of development? What are their interests? What options and power do they have to steer the development? What can and should they practically do to prepare? In this document, we looked at these questions mainly from the point of view of the road authorities and operators – since they are core contributors to the EU EIP project. This roadmap document focuses on the following topics:
- impact of connected and highly automated driving on and role of physical and digital infrastructure, with a specific focus on the concept of Operational Design Domain (ODD);
- cost and benefits of automation for road authorities and operators.
For both topics, the document focuses on findings and efforts so far, and sets out a direction for future work. A stakeholder consultation process was part of the preparation work for this document, so various stakeholders’ views on future developments and roles are certainly part of the process. The process has led to a wide range of information and insights, and to a list of actions and recommendations.
It is premature to commence deployments unless road authorities and operators are certain that the solutions invested in will not become obsolete in the short term. This highlights the importance of research, field trials, demonstrators, and deployment pilots, but also structured dialogue between the road authorities/operators and the automated driving industry. Some of the short-term actions, however, can be carried out with no regrets as they will benefit the road network operations already today and involving human-operated vehicles.
Regarding timing, most actions are for the medium term. Actually, for many actions different phases can be distinguished: research, considering the options, making choices, deployment, etcetera. This means that thinking may need to start on the short term, while actual deployment (if chosen for) could take place on the long term. The goal is to be prepared for automated driving, have influence on the development so that road network operation does not suffer but rather improves, avoid excessive investments in vain, and to reap the potential benefits as soon as possible.
The final version of the Road map and action plan to facilitate automated driving on TEN road network is available to download now.