Testing Of Self-Driving Cars on VA Express Lanes Approved

Heather Curtis
WMAL.com.

WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The future is coming to the express lanes on I-95 and the Beltway in Virginia. Wednesday Virginia’s Transportation Planning Board voted to start testing self-driving cars out with the help of the Federal Highway Administration and Transubran, which is the company that manages the express lanes.

“I think that’s a new era for VDOT [the Virginia Department of Transportation] and I look forward to expanding the use of our networks here in the Commonwealth and embracing this new technology,” said Virginia’s Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne.

VDOT’s Charlie Kilpatrick said this is an opportunity to test the new technology in a real world scenario.

The tests will include lane changes, merging, and seeing how the self-driving cars can communicate with each other.

The Federal Highway Administration thinks self-driving vehicles have a great potential for improving safety and mobility.

Copyright 2017 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: CNN )

Missed a Show? Listen Here

Newsletter

Local Weather