Japan is set to take another step towards embracing autonomous driving with the creation of a self-driving truck lane on its busiest expressway. The lane will be featured on a section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway, stretching around 62 miles between Numazu and Hamamatsu, two cities to the south of Mount Fuji, and could be reserved for autonomous haulage vehicles as early as next year.
The lane will be accompanied by sensors and cameras to monitor road conditions, and advanced 5G communication will also be required to ensure that self-driving trucks are warned of any obstacles in the lane or hold-ups further ahead.
The initiative is part of a road map for a national digital infrastructure that is set to be presented by the Japanese government. With the necessary legislation now being put into place, the government has been keen to accelerate the rollout of Level 4 autonomous driving services, with plans to have 40 areas covered by 2025 and more than 100 by 2030.
This renewed focus has also encouraged testing of autonomous vehicles from private companies. General Motors’ self-driving subsidiary Cruise has started an evaluation program with Honda in Tochigi, with a view to the latter launching the purpose-built Origin AV as a Mobility as a Service business in Japan.
Japan’s move towards autonomous driving is being driven by concerns over its falling population, and the potential benefits of automated transport. While progress has been slow in the past, the adoption of driverless transport legislation last year and the incorporation of Level 4 autonomous driving into traffic law have signaled a shift towards a more autonomous future. As Japan prepares for the arrival of self-driving trucks on its roads, it is clear that the country is positioning itself as a leader in autonomous driving technology.
