On 17 May 2018, the European Commission published an official statement to manage existing and imminent technology in motor vehicles. With the document “On the road to mobility: the strategy for the mobility of the future”. The intention was announced to establish a large platform that can bring together all the public and private stakeholders, to coordinate road tests and pre-deployment of autonomous vehicles, for a connected and automated mobility (CAM).
The Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), in
agreement with the other Commission services, namely Directorate-General for Networks, Content and Communication Technologies, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (“DG GROW “) and the Directorate General for Research and Innovation (“DG RTD”), established an informal group of experts.
The group has the task of providing advice and support in the field of testing and pre deployment activities, for cooperative, connected, automated and autonomous cooperation (CCAM).
In deep, the group has the task of supporting the Commission in the following thematic areas:
a) In the coordination of CCAM research, experimentation and pre-deployment activities, in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness, or to integrate existing forums at EU level;
b) Take part of the testing and pre-deployment activities. As regards the implementation of the CCAM, the group must address, such as those relating to access and data exchange,road transport infrastructures, digital infrastructure, communication technologies, information security, road safety, etc.
c) In the communications sector. The Commission has announced that it will establish a partnership with the next multiannual financial framework to provide pre-deployment, on driverless mobility both within the EU and at individual national levels.
The Commission has accepted a maximum of 100 participants in the group of experts who will actively participate in the periodic meetings. Of the over 200 requests for participation, only 30 questions were accepted. The subjects distinguished themselves from the experts of computer science, infrastructure, transport, suppliers, suppliers and services, of training professionals.
Among the various candidates, EFA emerges victorious in Training field. The European federation of driving schools could be one of the main actors in the training sector. One of the aims is understanding how it will be possible to adopt an acceptance system of technology to protect vulnerable road users (motorcycles, mopeds, cyclists and pedestrians). The transition through levels SAE3 to level SAE4 (Society of Automotive Engineers) could have enormous consequences in the habits of citizens, which will have to be instructed on the presence and risks associated with their own behavior, often unpredictable for vehicles with a high level of automation.
There are still many unknowns. The behavior of some categories of vulnerable users is not yet well developed. That of animals, often unpredictable, is an example.
Work will begin in early September, after which a series of monthly meetings will follow for the coming year.