Impact analysis of automated and connected driving in passenger and freight transport

Abstract

(Überblicksvortrag zum Thema der Konferenz-Session) Automated driving is expected to radically change the mobility of persons and goods and will have impacts on urban designs and spatial planning as well as residential selection and location decisions of retailers. Regarding the increasingly accepted ideal of the livable city as being compact, walkable and bikeable, automated driving may have ambivalent effects. It may increase road safety especially for cyclists and pedestrians due to technical superiority. Self-driving vehicles for both, passenger and commercial transport, may reduce the volume of traffic, due to the more efficient use of road capacity as well as due to decreasing levels of vehicle ownership in favor of sharing. It may enable the re-utilization of road and parking spaces for the sake of public spaces and new solutions for last mile logistics. Moreover, automated driving at least in combination with electric-mobility may help to overcome current challenges in urban transport like congestion, emissions and noise. By contrast, automated driving bears risks for the livable city. Especially in the transition period, separating and fencing the automated vehicles might be a viable solution resulting in an even more car-oriented environment. Motorized traffic may increase further while the occupancy rate decreases due to empty trips. Further, automated driving may potentially reduce the value of travel time savings when people can take their hands off of the steering wheel and undertake other activities while travelling. This may influence residential selection strategies and lead to new movements of urban sprawl. It is not clear if und when fully automated vehicles will stand by as regular means of transportation. However, a growing body of research is underway to investigate the topic of automated driving. Yet, while there is a clear focus on technical aspects and feasibility, matters of acceptance and effects on a societal level are underrepresented.