DAVENPORT -- By 2040, at least a fifth of the traffic on Interstate 80 in Iowa will be highly automated, a new Iowa Department of Transportation study says, and planners need to take into account the coming changes when preparing for the future. <\/p>\n
The study, which is part of a larger DOT analysis aimed at positioning rural parts of I-80 for the future, says the higher levels of automation would mean increased capacity and fewer accidents. <\/p>\n
\"These technologies have the potential to really improve safety,\" said Brad Hofer, assistant director of the DOT's Office of Location and Environment, which was in charge of the study. <\/p>\n
Automated vehicle technologies are under rapid development. And although driverless cars are far into the future, some experts say, the idea that a significant share of traffic along Iowa's main east-west highway would be highly automated in less than 25 years is striking. <\/p>\n
\"In the beginning, I think we were all taken aback by it,\" Hofer said. However, after discussions with industry sources and others, he thinks the prediction is \"in the ballpark.\" <\/p>\n
The DOT study, which was released last month, acknowledges that predicting the adoption of automated vehicle technologies is highly uncertain. <\/p>\n
In fact, the DOT's prediction was that, by 2040, somewhere between 20 percent and 85 percent of traffic will be highly or fully automated. <\/p>\n
That's a wide range. Even at the low end of use, however, safety gains would be significant, the study said. <\/p>\n
\"Even at 25% AV adoption, a nearly 20% crash reduction is anticipated,\" the study said. <\/p>\n
At 85 percent, the study predicted, there would be a 50 percent reduction in fatalities and major injuries. <\/p>\n
By 2060, the study said, 65 percent to 100 percent of traffic is expected to be highly automated. <\/p>\n
There are varying levels of automation. The Society of Automotive Engineers defines six levels, with zero being not automated at all and 5 being fully automated. The DOT's predictions refer to the two highest levels, Hofer said. <\/p>\n
There are significant differences between levels 4 and 5, said Dan McGehee, director of the National Advanced Driving Simulator at the University of Iowa. <\/p>\n
\"It doesn't mean you're going to have robots driving I-80,\" he said. <\/p>\n
He said, however, that at level 4, specific functions have a high level of automation. <\/p>\n
McGehee thinks driverless cars are far into the future. <\/p>\n
\"I don't see that happening for decades,\" he said. <\/p>\n
Iowa has been aggressive in planning for the future. The state is currently in a partnership to create high definition maps of hundreds of miles of roads in the Iowa City\/Cedar Rapids area to ready itself for higher levels of automation. <\/p>\n
The I-80 study, which was launched a year ago, is aimed at informing policymakers on how to proceed with an increasingly busy rural I-80, particularly in eastern Iowa. <\/p>\n
Much of the study is pointing to a six-lane I-80 in the future. Already, in eastern Iowa, traffic is approaching capacity, Hofer said. <\/p>\n
The addition of automated technology helps with that problem, he said, but it likely would not stop the need for six lanes in the eastern part of the state. <\/p>\n
Greater use of automated technologies could affect the timing and shape of expansion in some parts of the state. <\/p>\n
\"Adoption of AV buys us some significant capacity,\" Hofer said. <\/p>\n
Several other considerations are going into the I-80 study. Already, the DOT has issued technical reports on the status of bridges spanning the interstate, the option of lane restrictions and investing in state highways that parallel Interstate 80. A final report is due by next year. <\/p>\n
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DOT: Higher levels of automation in I-80's future | Political News ... - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" DAVENPORT -- By 2040, at least a fifth of the traffic on Interstate 80 in Iowa will be highly automated, a new Iowa Department of Transportation study says, and planners need to take into account the coming changes when preparing for the future. The study, which is part of a larger DOT analysis aimed at positioning rural parts of I-80 for the future, says the higher levels of automation would mean increased capacity and fewer accidents Continue reading