As part of iRAP’s focus on driving innovation in technologies that support safer, more accessible and sustainable 5-star journeys, iRAP’s Chief of Future Impact Rob McInerney and United Kingdom RAP Lead Suzy Charman have taken rides with Waymo in San Francisco and Atlanta, experiencing autonomous vehicle technology firsthand.
The journeys offered a glimpse into how rapidly emerging technologies can help transform the way people move and interact with our road networks and the people on them.
As innovation accelerates, iRAP is working with nearly 160 partners across the world to harness new technologies, artificial intelligence, data and connected technologies to accelerate progress towards achieving the global goal of halving road deaths and injuries by 2030, and ensuring zero road deaths by 2050.
Suzy, Executive Director of the UK Road Safety Foundation, captured her first fully autonomous Waymo experience. Suzy has worked in road safety for more than 20 years and shared that Waymo built her trust over and over again through its driving behaviour.
Join her on her ride:
Rob also captured his Waymo ride in San Francisco last month as part of meetings with global leaders in technology-enabled mobility and road design.:
“I’m a very bad singer but Waymo let me know I could happily sing along loudly in my first driverless ride in San Francisco. An amazing experience as ‘we’ safely navigated all types of intersections and roads, construction sites, other vehicles and most importantly everyone who was walking and wheeling and cycling.
“A ‘driver’ with full attention and a constant 360 degree view of what is going on. There are Waymo’s everywhere and I watched them make the safest choice in every decision and at the same time fit in seamlessly with the rest of people moving. One moment stood out as the vehicle was turning right at an intersection and a cyclist was approaching from behind in what would have been the blindspot for any human driver. Waymo waited patiently for the cyclist to pass and clear the intersection before it moved,” Rob said.
Innovation is moving fast, and iRAP and its partners are working together to optimise safest route and mode choice, ensuring the iRAP global standard works seamlessly alongside other safe system partner efforts including the FIA Foundation, Global NCAP, Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), International Association of Public Transport (UITP), Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and others to deliver the mutual benefits of safer and more sustainable mobility for all
“It’s an incredibly exciting world to be a part of,” Rob said. “At iRAP, we have the privilege of working alongside the world’s leading pioneers pushing the boundaries of technology, data and mobility to help shape the safer, 5-star journeys of tomorrow. Working together, we’re turning innovation into real-world benefits saving lives.”
Read more on iRAP’s recent Global Innovation Workshop in Budapest here and our partnerships to deliver 5-star journeys to major events here.