Automated test vehicles allowed on Swedish roads
As of July 1st 2017, new regulation will come into force for testing of self-driving vehicles on public roads in Sweden.
The regulation introduces the possibility of applying for a permission to perform tests with autonomous vehicles. To carry out tests, it will be required that there is a person inside or outside the test vehicle who is responsible and is always ready to take back control.
Fredrik von Corswant, Infrastructure leader at Chalmers’ vehicle lab Revere comments: "The new law is a breakthrough for our test lab. We welcome the opportunity to test autonomous vehicles on public roads according to the new process. In particular, this will enable tests where we can evaluate how our vehicles act and behave in different real-traffic conditions, something that is often difficult to obtain in a test track environment.” The decision currently only applies to experimental activities, but the government has also appointed an investigation that will come up with proposals in the autumn on which rules are required for self-driving vehicles to be able to roll out in traffic permanently.
