Gracie WarhurstAmid a technology renaissance for the automobile industry, most U.S. cities are preparing for the integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on their roads, according to a recent report from Verra Mobility, a smart mobility technology company.
Based on the survey of 100 C-suite technology leaders, 93% anticipate needing to be ready for AVs, also known as driverless cars, within five years. More than a third of respondents said they would need to be ready in the next two years.
Companies like Waymo, Cruise and Tesla are among the leaders in AV technology deployment, each having significant numbers of vehicles in active testing. Though, their testing has not been full proof, with Waymo pulling their AVs from roads in San Francisco after an accident earlier this year.
Automation is not only increasing on roads, but in road-safety measures. Fifty-five percent of Verra’s survey respondents said enhancing road safety is a top priority for using tech-based solutions like automated photo enforcement.
This kind of camera technology can enable real-time monitoring and analysis of traffic conditions. It is already deployed in cities across the U.S. to improve safety and efficiency on roadways, particularly in New York as part of Vision Zero efforts.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also in demand, with 52% of survey respondents saying identifying safety needs and high-fatality corridors is among their top three options for using AI to monitor and enforce traffic.
Other notable considerations from the survey results showed 43% of technology leaders have deprioritized electric vehicle infrastructure, citing the gap between early expectations and actual market uptake of electric vehicles.
