By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Council bosses are being urged to position Southampton at the front of the queue for driverless technology.
Article continues after this message...
Cllr Jeremy Moulton, Conservative group spokesperson for transport and economic development, said taking a positive approach could put the city in prime position for future investment around autonomous vehicles.
Cllr Moulton, pictured, is set to table an amendment to the next phase of the city council’s local transport implementation plan, which is due to be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday (November 26).
He is pushing for a section to be added to the plan covering future mobility and autonomous vehicle readiness.
If backed by members, the amendment sets out that the council will:
- Engage with Department for Transport (DfT), private sector innovators and technology providers to explore pilot schemes for autonomous vehicles within Southampton.
- Identify future opportunities to integrate autonomous vehicle trials into the Solent Future Transport Zone and other innovation programmes.
- Provide appropriate support, including planning and infrastructure considerations, to enable safe and effective deployment of driverless technologies in line with national safety standards.
Commercial pilots of self-driving taxi- and bus-like services without a safety driver are expected to take place on England’s roads for the first time next year.
This would be the precursor to a potential wider rollout when the full Automated Vehicles Act becomes law in the second half of 2027.
The submission to full council from Cllr Moulton said taking a proactive approach would ensure Southampton remained at the forefront of transport innovation.
It added that the move would also align with the city’s ambition to be a modern, liveable, and sustainable urban centre.
Cllr Moulton said: “The technology is here today and investment will follow shortly with larger cities set to benefit from any pilot or early schemes.
“By being proactive Southampton can be at the forefront of future investment, with new jobs as well as economic, productivity, environmental and safety benefits.”
Car photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
Photo of Cllr Moulton: SCC
This article is from the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Some alterations/additions may have been made by our site - a BBC Local News Partnerships member. BBC-funded LDRS journalists cover local authorities and public service organisations, with content shared by all partners.