47. The expert from UITP presented GRVA-16-32, introducing their project that explored the deployment of shared, connected and electrified Automated Vehicles (AVs) on open roads aimed at advancing sustainable urban mobility. The project was aiming at gathering knowledge to prepare recommendations for adapting the regulatory strategies related to AVs at local level. She stated that automated public transport, shared and on-demand, would be the next step and would affect strongly all business cases, which would be heavily impacted by regulations and local authorities, e.g. speed limitations for AVs, data set exchange, presence of a mandatory safety operator. She pointed out that the project faced many challenges when requesting permission to deploy AVs on the open road. She informed GRVA about the lessons learned and advised to moderate requests for data and also advised against extra speed limits for AVs, as it would conflict the traffic with other road users. She stated that regulations should not be elaborated for pre-mature technology, like low-speed shuttles, but should rather focus on the future.

48. The expert from Canada inquired about the reasons explaining the difficulties to obtain authorization from authorities for AVs deployment.

49. The expert from UITP replied that these difficulties were caused by administrations at various levels, including municipalities, not being ready for the deployment of AVs. She offered GRVA to share the lessons learned with the Group.

50. The expert from Norway confirmed, as one of the road authorities involved in such deployments, that these authorities have to take action for safety, in the context of deployment of AVs in mixed traffic, yet due to the low maturity of the technology.