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Driver’s licences may not be required to operate autonomous vehicles (AVs) in New Zealand in the future, according to a report prepared by the Ministry of Transport (MOT).
However, the report, which discusses the future of self-driving vehicles in the country, also says the timeline for the development and roll-out of AVs remains uncertain.
“Compared to many other jurisdictions, New Zealand has taken a relatively ‘hands off’ approach [to proactively preparing for the introduction of AVs] to date,” the report says. “There are advantages and disadvantages to being an ‘early adopter’ or a ‘fast follower’, however, inaction poses significant risks.”
Research and development for AVs is a multi-billion dollar global industry. Investment comes from major automotive companies such as Nissan, Toyota and Honda, as well as non-traditional sources such as Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Google, and start-up ventures that can offer the necessary expertise and capital for AV development.
The various industry players are approaching the AV industry as a long-term economic investment opportunity and are operating across country borders with a focus on being the first to deploy AVs at a commercial scale.
Internationally, manufacturers are testing and trialling vehicles with varying degrees of automation. At the most advanced stages of AV development, Level 4 driverless taxi services are operating in pilot areas with fare-paying customers, and some countries have enacted legislation to allow the operation of Level 3 AVs on public roads. Policy makers in some countries, such as Japan, are thinking specifically about how AVs can help address growing social concerns such as providing mobility to an ageing population. Other countries are focused on the opportunities AVs might present for job creation, innovation and economic growth.
The report notes that AVs have the potential to significantly reduce road deaths by eliminating the potential for human error – something that’s responsible for the majority of all car accidents. Self-driving vehicles also reduce fuel consumption.
The MOT report outlines three potential pathways for the future of AVs in New Zealand – ‘wait and see’, ‘balanced and iterative’ or ‘steering the course and enabling innovation’.
It also identifies challenges posed by AVs – namely, regulatory and ethical challenges. No laws are currently in place to restrict automated driving and it remains to be seen whether AVs will be an impactful technology, or just another passing trend.
Despite barriers, Ohmio Automation, an Auckland-based self-driving bus manufacturer, has made some headway recently. In a demonstration in Queenstown earlier this year – the first of its kind for New Zealand – an autonomous shuttle bus operated on Lower Beach Street, an open public road that remained closed to general traffic. The Ohmio Lift shuttle can carry up to 20 passengers at low speed, while relying on GPS to map its journey. The shuttle is being hailed as a “last-mile transport solution”, perfect for busy city centres.
It is also equipped with cutting-edge safety technology designed to ensure passengers arrive at their destination safely and quickly.
Sooner or later, it looks like AVs are set to play an important role in improving accessibility to public transport at least, particularly for people with disabilities, or anyone who otherwise isn’t able to walk, bike or use an e-scooter.
