Many manufacturers have pinned their hopes on 2025 as the launch date for fully autonomous vehicles. Despite significant advances in technology for this to become a reality the roads needed to facilitate them are not up to par. New research from the RAC suggests that poor signage and destructive potholes could be a reason why driverless vehicles will not be seen on our roads for some time.

Currently, variables such as potholes and unclear signage could mean that driverless cars will most likely be condemned to move slowly in caution mode, which is not the type of ride car manufacturers are hoping to sell. To combat road problems, a range of roadside communication signals are being considered to support vehicle-based devices and sensors. For example, strategically positioned beacons may replace traffic signals and provide autonomous vehicles with the information they need to make decisions. The only problem that arises with this is that connection could be lost as the beacons transit these signals.

In our previous blog, we summarised information uncovered by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) that highlighted that there has been a lack of maintenance on UK roads. The government has been installing cameras onto bin lorries to detect future potholes from developing. The future of autonomous vehicles is currently in the hands of both the manufacturers and official bodies to improve the condition of our roads and develop sensors for driverless vehicles.

We are keeping our eyes peeled on this topic as perhaps one day they will transform the world of couriering! Keep checking our blog for regular updates on UK roads, couriering and more.