Virginia tests connected cars on 95 Express Lanes

Virginia tests connected cars on 95 Express Lanes

–Virginia is open for automated and unmanned business,” said the stateês Director of Technology, Karen Jackson, as state officials and reporters gathered recently for a demonstration of automated and connected vehicles on the 95 Express Lanes. A 10-mile stretch of road was closed off for the event, marking the first time the technology has been tested on a public road in the Washington area. U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D) took a ride in a driverless Cadillac and was clearly startled when it jerked into the next lane to make room for a trooper who was on the Cadillacês tail.

Overall, researchers and state officials were pleased with the test. The work is part of the Virginia Connected Corridors and the Virginia Automated Corridors, which represent partnerships among the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the state DOT and DMV, Transurban and HERE, Nokiaês mapping business. The test staged four scenarios: an active work zone, an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, response to a moving emergency vehicle and lane drift/blind spot warning.

Virginia officials told The Washington Post that the move toward such technology takes on added significance as the state tries to wean itself off too much dependence on defense contractors.