<\/p>\n
\n Amanda Stretton, a motoring journalist and former racing driver who lives in Oxfordshire, was responding to comments made by Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith at the Conservative Party Conference.\n<\/p>\n
\n She criticised the suggestion that self-driving cars could transform transport in rural communities, warning existing road infrastructure is not ready for the technology.\n<\/p>\n
\n Speaking at a fringe event in Birmingham, Mr Griffith argued that autonomous vehicles could provide a major benefit to older and disabled people living in rural areas who are no longer able to drive.\n<\/p>\n
\n He suggested driverless vehicles could help tackle transport challenges in countryside communities where bus services are limited.\n<\/p>\n
\n Speaking on BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today programme, Ms Stretton said the proposal showed \u201ca complete lack of understanding\u201d of how self-driving technology currently works, describing it as “just nonsense”.\n<\/p>\n
\n She explained that autonomous vehicles rely heavily on road infrastructure, including clear road markings, signs and consistent road layouts in order to operate effectively.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI live in Oxfordshire and just looking at the roads around me, the actual infrastructure of our roads is not up to it,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n
\n She added that self-driving vehicles \u201cneed a certain level of uniform road structure\u201d, including painted lines and clearly marked areas, which are often absent on narrow rural roads.\n<\/p>\n
\n The comments come as the UK continues to push forward with the development of autonomous vehicle technology, including through the work of London-based technology company Wayve.\n<\/p>\n
\n Earlier this year, the firm signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government focused on sharing research and supporting the responsible deployment of self-driving vehicles in the UK.\n<\/p>\n
\n Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle (Image: PA)\n<\/p>\n
\n Business Secretary Peter Kyle said at the time that the partnership demonstrated the Government was backing \u201chigh-growth British scale-ups\u201d.\n<\/p>\n
\n Wayve has also announced plans to launch commercial robotaxi trials in London, while ride-hailing giant Uber introduced a small fleet of self-driving taxis in the capital in September using the firm’s technology.\n<\/p>\n
#Driverless #cars #nonsense #Oxfordshire #expert<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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