AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO RURAL COMMUNITIES

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO RURAL COMMUNITIES

The current debate around autonomous driving tends to focus on its potential impact in cities. We think that the perspective should be broader: Self-driving vehicles could be the key to reconnecting the countryside, part of the mobility solution for people living in rural areas.

Rural populations are often isolated due to a lack of public transport options. Autonomous vehicles can fill the void and make a major contribution to mobility in these areas, boosting the quality of life of rural residents. In addition, the countryside offers automotive companies a uniquely valuable opportunity to develop and test autonomous driving propositions in a rewarding market marked by quieter roads and less traffic.

Three customer groups would particularly benefit from public or semi-public transportation systems based on autonomous vehicles. The first is elderly people who are no longer able to drive and cannot access traditional public transit. The second group includes people who are not yet of driving age. This includes schoolchildren, where the option of a self-driving bus with an adult chaperone offers an economical solution for parents. The third group consists of people with disabilities, those who cannot drive or who have difficulty accessing traditional public transit.

Read more: https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Publications/Reconnecting-the-rural-Autonomous-driving.html