Scania's self-driving trucks have driven on public roads for the first time. The three Scania's formed a convoy on the A28 near Zwolle on Monday. Minister Schultz van Haegen was in one of the Scania's.
Adaptation of legislation
Only today will the large-scale tests really start. These tests are possible because the minister has adapted Dutch legislation for this purpose. The RDW has also granted exemption after thorough testing. Safeguarding road safety was an important criterion here.
Plateoning
The trials will mainly involve a lot of platooning. This involves trucks electronically linked together driving behind each other. The front truck acts as a leader for the other trucks. Until they join the platoon, each driver drives his vehicle independently. But after joining the platoon, drivers in the following cars can basically take their hands off the wheel. If the first truck in the platoon brakes, all trucks brake real-time with the same dosage. When a new truck approaches or joins a platoon it automatically contacts the other trucks. However, drivers retain control of their own truck. Thus, he can always decide to leave a convoy and drive independently.
Watch the video here, in which Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen and TLN president Arthur van Dijk take a seat in the self-driving truck.
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