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ARTICLE · 30 NOVEMBER 2016

Autonomous Vehicles Coming To Ontario Roads

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The Province of Ontario announced plans to allow testing of autonomous vehicles on its roadways.

CanadaTransport
George Wray
George Wray
Robert Love
Robert Love
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On November 28, 2016, the Province of Ontario announced plans to allow testing of autonomous vehicles on its roadways. The pilot program, which was formally launched on January 1, 2016, is now set to take to Ontario's public roads. The program is being led by The University of Waterloo's Centre for Automotive Research, with involvement from the Erwin Hymer Group and BlackBerry QNX.

Fully autonomous vehicles are still some years away, and the current regulations in the Province (Ontario Regulation 306/15) are focused on the higher levels of autonomous vehicles and are for testing purposes only. The vehicles involved in the pilot program include a Lincoln MKZ and a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van, with testing at various levels of automation. However, a driver must be present and remain seated in the vehicle at all times, be trained to safely operate it, monitor its safe operation throughout the test, and be able to assume immediate control.

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