WMG at The University of Warwick has launched the Partners for Automated Vehicle Education United Kingdom initiative (PAVE UK), with founding partners the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Transport, the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and Transport for West Midlands.
PAVE UK aims to build public confidence in self-driving technology through education, in support of the UK government’s ambition to safely deploy self-driving vehicles on public roads and establish the UK as a prominent player for AI.
The initiative was launched at the Royal Automobile Club in London, with Anthony Browne MP (technology and decarbonisation minister) and professor Sarah Sharples (chief scientific adviser at the Department for Transport) as the keynote speakers. Over 100 technology developers, safety campaign groups, regulators and industry leaders discussed how to ensure the public is engaged in the self-driving technology journey and how to accurately communicate AV safety messages in society.
PAVE UK will work closely with the whole UK Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) ecosystem to carry out educational programs, such as research materials packs, school outreach activities, community outreach, an online video library, webinars and an online educational app.
Professor Siddartha Khastgir, head of verification and validation at WMG, said, “PAVE UK will translate technical information into clear, comprehensive and accurate messaging to help communicate safety to the public in an inclusive and accessible manner.”
Browne (right) said, “Self-driving vehicles have the potential to transform our transport sector, and PAVE UK will be a big part of this by raising awareness and embedding confidence in people throughout the country. In the meantime, we’re making sure that these vehicles are safe to use on our roads.
“Our Automated Vehicles Bill sets a rigorous standard for safety, while making sure that this country is where businesses can develop and deploy their cutting-edge technology.”