A more proactive approach needed on automated mobility, Transport MEPs say
Transport MEPs welcome focus on automated mobility but call for further efforts to ensure road safety and support for EU industry.
In a draft resolution adopted in the Transport and Tourism Committee on Thursday, MEPs welcome the Commission communication "On the road to automated mobility" as an important milestone in the EU strategy for connected and automated mobility, but stress that further efforts are needed to ensure that there is sufficient funding to support the sector and that there are appropriate safety and liability rules.
Several countries around the world are moving rapidly towards making both connected and automated mobility available on the market, they note.
“Europe has to be innovative but faster. China and the USA are not waiting,” said rapporteur Wim van de Camp (EPP, NL).
Transport MEPs urge the Commission and EU countries to work to maintain a leading role in the international technical harmonisation of automated vehicles within the framework of the UNECE and the Vienna Convention.
Safeguard systems to allow co-existence between automated vehicles and vehicles with zero connectivity and zero automation also need to be developed, they stress.
Rules on automation for other modes of transport
MEPs also want the Commission to present detailed rules for automated aircraft and to define the levels of automation for both inland and sea navigation in order to stimulate the uptake of autonomous vessels. Standards should also be developed to enabling autonomous train and light-rail systems, they say.
A Joint Undertaking along similar lines to Shift2Rail for rail transport and CleanSky for the aeronautics industry, to create an industry driven strategic initiative on autonomous transport should be set up, MEPs add.
Next steps
The draft resolution now needs to be voted by the the full house of the Parliament.
Disclaimer: this is an informal message intended to help journalists covering the work of the European Parliament. It is neither an official press release nor a comprehensive record of proceedings.