Committees

Government Ministers questioned on development of driverless vehicles

18 November 2016

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee hears evidence from the Department for Transport, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as well as leading academics.

The Committee explores with Government Ministers how driverless vehicles fit into wider transport strategy and policy and what the Government is doing to ensure knowledge gained in their development benefits all sectors.

The Committee also examines with the academics the socio-economic aspects of the deployment of self-driving cars such as how much is really understood about human interaction with the technology.

Witnesses

Tuesday 22 November in Committee Room 4A, Palace of Westminster

At 10.40am

  • Professor Sarah Sharples, Associate Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Knowledge Exchange, Professor of Human Factors, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
  • Professor Natasha Merat, Professor in Human Factors of Transport Systems, Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds
  • Mr Andy Graham, Director of White Willow Consulting and Founding Chair of ITS (UK)

At 11.40am

  • Rt Hon John Hayes MP, Minister of State, Department for Transport
  • Mr Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Possible questions

Questions likely to be covered in the first session include:

  • How might information be obtained on drivers' attitudes to using, and buying, automated vehicles or sharing the streets with them?
  • How much is known and understood about the behaviour and interaction of people with the technology used for autonomous vehicles?

Questions likely to be covered in the second session include:

  • What benefits and drawbacks do you expect from the deployment of highly automated or autonomous vehicles in all sectors in the UK?
  • How will the Government ensure that the possible increased convenience of autonomous vehicles does not lead to an increase in journeys by car at the expense of active modes such as walking and cycling?
  • Is there a case for extending the role of Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to include other Government departments to ensure knowledge gained in one sector is shared for the benefit of all?

Further information

Image: PA