Autonomous vehicles set to be the biggest game changer

Driverless vehicles will be the biggest change, a smart city leaders panel says at New Zealand’s future transport conference T-Tech on May 6-7 in Christchurch.

Matthews Consulting chief executive officer Martin Matthews, Christchurch City Council innovation and sustainability committee chair Vicki Buck, GM Corporate Affairs general manager Michael Singleton and Lyttleton Port Company chief executive Peter Davie shared their visions of the future.

The array of transport and micromobility options, such as Uber and Lime, was a topic of conversation, especially their quick integration into the transport system.

“We didn’t even know about electric scooters this time last year,” says Buck.

Singleton says society will change and social attitudes are changing – not just technology.

“Soon ride-share will be picking people up instead of buses, lowering emission,” he says.

Lime scooters were not on the radar until they came out, prompting Matthews to ask the panel what in five years would be the biggest change they could imagine in transport.

“Further, faster, more efficient ships,” says Davie.

“Autonomous vehicles,” say both Buck and Singleton.

Buck imagines an electric, driverless taxi service would be plausible.

“Driverless vehicles. People getting into them and there is no driver. There was a test conducted where in 30-45 seconds after the autonomous vehicle moved onto the road, people were seen completely relaxed and on their phones,” says Buck.

“There is a fear of new technology, but watch it evaporate once people see it in operation.”