Open to autonomous vehicle testing

Wellington North is open to autonomous vehicle testing after receiving a letter from the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA).

The letter invited Wellington North to be a part of OGRA’s municipal alliance for connected autonomous vehicles in Ontario for testing.

The association was looking for municipalities to join together for an autonomous vehicle testing corridor from Windsor to Ottawa, with the aim to attract and retain the related industry in Ontario.

“I’ve been watching the issue of autonomous vehicles from a very interested perspective … I think that autonomous vehicles have the potential to be very valuable to us in a rural community as different transportation alternatives,” said Mayor Andy Lennox.

“While there may be some risk associated with having autonomous vehicles on our roads, I think there’s more reward potentially long term than the risk.”

Lennox added there is a potential for autonomous vehicles to assist senior and youth residents.

Councillor Steve McCabe wanted to see more studies done.  “I’d like to see more research perhaps into autonomous vehicles before we let them loose, but I think being part of the solution is better than not being a part of it at all.”

Council accepted the report and directed staff to bring a report on the alliance to a future meeting of council.