Consortium partners EFA and AIPSS held the first in a series of simusafe workshops last month in Brussels. Entitled Autonomous vehicles and road safety: towards new training modules for drivers and driving instructors, almost 20 people attended this one day workshop. The workshop focus is described below:

The road mobility environment is continuously evolving and vehicle types are beginning to change as a result of increasing levels of automation: at the present vehicle SAE2 are already circulating and the SAE3 ones are close to be deployed; their interaction with conventional vehicles and other road users, particularly the vulnerable ones are an increasing concern. While the commonly accepted definition of Vulnerable Road Users includes pedestrians, cyclists, elders, impaired persons, etc., in the increasingly connected and mixed road transport system “vulnerability” may in the future be more related to the non-connected users and people unable to properly use the new technologies that will be embedded in the new generation of vehicles. There is therefore a risk of a new “automotive digital divide” with relevant impact of socio economic and road safety aspects. In order to face the above risks and prevent the envisaged digital barrier, new education and training schemes (for both trainers and novice drivers) should be agreed at European level and implemented in a way which match the speed of the increased implementation of automated driving functions. The SIMUSAFE project is dealing with new standards related to the introduction of autonomous vehicles and organizes a series of thematic workshops. EFA and AIPSS are proud to invite you to the first one.