Self-Driving Cars Could Cure Traffic Jams: Study
Like a vaccine, Self-driving cars might be able to cure traffic jams in major cities where they are most common.
The research was led by Luis Martinez of the International Transport Forum with scientists from Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development carrying out the study. Although it mainly dealt with small and middle-sized European towns, the results are eye-opening even for skeptics of autonomous vehicles. According to the study, if self-driving “Taxibots” were used on the streets of major capitals, street traffic would be greatly reduced. In the case of Lisbon, which the scientists used in their research, self-driving robotic cars would clear the city of 90 percent of its cars, while leaving over 200 football fields’ worth of space, resulting in 65 percent less traffic during rush hour.
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Factors taken into account by the study include local population, size of the city, commuting habits, car ownership and more and a model of mobility pattern was developed based on Lisbon. The researchers simulated the presence of Taxibots at possible pickup and drop off locations, in addition to wait times and the way a dispatch system would operate. Numerous automakers worldwide are working on autonomous-driving technologies and Google has invested into its own self-driving car.
“It is conceivable that a shared fleet of self-driving vehicles could completely obviate the need for traditional public transport,” the study said.
[Source: RT]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Makes sense, people are always rubbernecking on the road. I can see how being on your phone/reading a book while your car handles the driving with less gawking would improve traffic