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THE WHEEL DEAL

Driverless cars to be tested by British public for the first time in trial around London’s O2 Arena

Bosses behind the scheme could be taking its first paid passengers within two years

BRITS are finally being given the chance to test out driverless cars on the nation’s roads.

For the next three weeks 100 plucky motorists will be able to take a prototype on a test run around a two-mile circuit near London’s O2 Arena.

Driverless cars will be tested by 100 passengers by London's O2 arena in a test over the next three weeks
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Driverless cars will be tested by 100 passengers by London's O2 arena in a test over the next three weeksCredit: PA:Press Association
The cars will run along a route besides the Thames in North Greenwich
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The cars will run along a route besides the Thames in North GreenwichCredit: PA:Press Association
At first the cars will only run at 10mph along a cycle path in South East London
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At first the cars will only run at 10mph along a cycle path in South East LondonCredit: PA:Press Association

And bosses behind the scheme reckon it could be taking its first paid passengers within two years.

Although no one will be driving the motors, they will still carry a trained operator in case of any mishaps.

The cars will pootle along at a leisurely 10mph along a cycle and pedestrian path near the Thames.

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The brains behind the project insist it will be far from a hair-raising ride.

Dr Graeme Smith, chief executive of Oxbotica, which is developing the electric vehicles, said: "This needs to be like any other form of transportation.

“It shouldn't be a white-knuckle ride for passengers. We know we've got the software right when the journeys are unremarkable."

He went on: "The vehicle will see up to 100 metres ahead and if it detects something that it thinks is in its path it will come to a nice graceful halt.

"If it needs to emergency brake if somebody steps right in front, it can do that as well.

And bosses reckon they could be taking their first paid passengers within two years
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And bosses reckon they could be taking their first paid passengers within two yearsCredit: PA:Press Association
The cars will have an operator to make sure they are working correctly
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The cars will have an operator to make sure they are working correctlyCredit: PA:Press Association

"It's been designed to be safe and fail-safe specifically in a pedestrianised environment. We look out for pedestrians, cyclists, cats and dogs."

If the trial is successful it could pave the way for similar tests across the UK.

Officials behind the £8 million GATEway Project believe the first paying passengers could use the system by 2019 on a trial basis, and it could eventually be rolled out to similar locations across the country.

Last week the Government announced plans for the first phase of its £100 million investment in testing infrastructure to develop autonomous driving technology.

A "cluster of excellence" will be created along the M40 corridor, using existing testing centres in Birmingham, Coventry, Oxford, Milton Keynes and London.

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