EU transport ministers sign agreement on autonomous cars

European Union (EU) transport ministers have agreed to take action to make autonomous driving a reality across the 28-nation bloc.

The Amsterdam Declaration was signed by the ministers during an informal meeting of the Transport Council on April 14 in Amsterdam.

The declaration outlines the steps necessary for the development of self-driving technology in the EU. In the document, the Netherlands, the European Commission, EU member states and the transport industry pledged to draw up rules and regulations that will allow autonomous vehicles to be used on the roads.

Specifically, they agreed to:

• promote a consistent legal framework for driverless driving throughout Europe
• develop a policy to deal with connected and automated-vehicle data
• work toward an internationally compatible vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure system
• cooperate to ensure cyber security
• increase acceptance of connected and automated vehicle technologies

“Our industry welcomes the Declaration of Amsterdam as an important milestone that promotes much-needed cooperation between automobile manufacturers, national governments and the EU institutions,” said Erik Jonnaert, secretary general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

Connected, cooperative and automated driving developments should come together to harvest societal benefits. (Chart from Amsterdam Declaration)