From
gov.ukNew transport tech to be tested in biggest shake-up of laws in a generation
Making journeys easier, smarter and greener with new technology.
The government has today (16 March 2020) launched a consultation to make journeys easier, smarter and greener through new technology as part of the Future of Transport regulatory review.
The review will consider how we make small changes to our everyday travel decisions and whether we could choose to walk, cycle, bus or one day scoot instead of take the car.
Alongside the review, a £90 million funding boost will lead to trials of new transport innovation in 3 new ‘future transport zones’. The zones will provide real-world testing for experts, allowing them to work with a range of local bodies such as councils, hospitals, airports and universities to test innovative ways to transport people and goods.
The 3 new zones set to receive a share of the funding are in Portsmouth and Southampton, the West of England Combined Authority, and Derby and Nottingham - they will all join the existing West Midlands future of transport zone.
One of the projects tested will see drones carrying medical supplies from clinics on the Isle of Wight to hospitals on the mainland. This will help speed up diagnoses by cutting out time spent journeying on ferries and roads. Once trials are complete, the drones could eventually be used to transport chemotherapy kits to save time and potentially lives.
The government will also consult on the use of e-scooters and the impact they may have on UK▸ transport. Requirements for both e-scooters and those using them are being explored to make sure they are safe for use on roads. This includes a minimum age and vehicle standards as well as insurance requirements. The review will also consider if local authorities should have extra powers to manage the impacts of e-scooters on public space, for example where they can be parked.
West of England Combined Authority will test innovative tech to bring together people, operators and authorities. The aim is to introduce booking platforms, giving people access to book one journey across multiple modes of transport through the click of a button. They will also work to trial self-driving cars to transport people between Bristol airport, central Bath and the Northern Arc.
Looking at the legal use of e-scooters (and Segaways, etc) feels long overdue to me. An apparently green way of getting around - though a potentially dangerous one - has been (and remains) against that law on the public highway.
