Drive less or driverless? Societal expectations and experiences on our automated future! Martin Russ Managing Director, AustriaTech

Abstract

When it comes to the movement of people and things, the last 5 years have seen more transformation than the previous 50. The next 10 promise to profoundly accelerate that change. But how do we plan, design, operate, finance and manage our future transport system in a way, that is more inclusive, fair and environmentally friendly, while also enabling competiveness for our industries?

As a starting point, we have to analyse user and citizens requirements, expectations and concerns related to the use of connected, cooperative and automated driving technologies and systems in their broadest sense (e.g. interaction with the system, trust, liability, ethical issues, privacy concerns, security, minimum safety and performance standards, etc.). But we also have to assess the impacts of higher degrees of automation and digitalisation in road transport on the future workforce (including job location, working environment, working times, needs for new skills, education and training.

Based on the Austrian Action Program on Automated Mobility and European and International initiatives, practical insights and aspects will be highlighted: What do people really think and feel about these new options, how could we better explain what actual ADAS solutions can do for us, to be prepared for a fully evolved future? What are the legal perspectives for even complex and risk taking experiments? Are ethics always leading us into dilemmas? Which kind of different pathways towards the future can we already define – and how to align policy goals and actions with industries, infrastructure operators and citizens?