Fleets need to be aware of new and upcoming self-driving technologies, and how to properly manage them as a part of their strategies…
Self-Driving Car Risks
The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) has called on fleets to recognise the risks presented by the rise of self-driving car technologies. This is due to the fact that a variety of models, which will no doubt appear on choice lists, will possess an increasingly large array of autonomous features.
Some fleets already possess vehicles with ‘Level 2’ autonomous features. However, ‘Level 3’ features will soon be reaching consumers; largely in the form of a monitored form of self-driving on some roads – such a motorways. This typically allows a vehicle to drive without driver input on the likes of motorways and major A-roads. Crucially, however, drivers still need to be able to intervene at all times.
Whilst completely self-driving vehicles seem to be a very distant prospect, fleets still need to prepare themselves for the implications of increasingly autonomous vehicles.
‘Duty of Care Implications’
Paul Hollick, AFP chair, has stated that fleets need to be aware of the ramifications of autonomous technology. In particular, he’s mentioned the prospect of duty of care implications. He said, “our view is very much that fleets need to be thinking about how they view these levels of assistance. Essentially, they rely on the driver intervening if the technology fails but it is all too easy to envisage situations where this handover does not happen. There needs to be serious examination of the risk management and Duty of Care implications”.
He continued, “because these driving modes may be soon available on cars that are entering production, there is a chance they may arrive on your fleet almost by stealth. You need to know if vehicles with these levels of autonomy are being used on your fleet and ensure that drivers are familiar with the technology and how it works. There are very clear risks”.
Fleet decision-makers, then, should familiarise themselves with specific autonomous features. They should consider whether they’re appropriate for their fleet’s vehicles and, if they are, develop a strategy to properly train and monitor the drivers making use of them.
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