Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the introduction of Autoguide in London.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Government believe that advanced driver information systems such as autoguide can do much to ease congestion and so make better use of our roads. The Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Bill, now before Parliament, demonstrates our commitment to this exciting new technology.
The Government have today invited the private sector to make proposals for installing a pilot autoguide scheme in the London area. A copy of the guidelines has been placed in the Library. Subject to a satisfactory proposal being received, and to the Road Traffic Bill becoming law, we hope that a licence can be issued this year.
We envisage that the pilot scheme will involve around 1,000 vehicles. Its operation will be closely monitored by the Department of Transport working in collaboration with the autoguide operator. We are discussing with local authority associations and the police how they might be involved in monitoring the pilot scheme.
Provided that the pilot scheme demonstrates the satisfactory performance of autoguide it is our intention that the operator should be authorised to upgrade the scheme to a fully commercial autoguide system, to which the public would be able to subscribe. This would mean that motorists could have autoguide equipment in their cars by the early to mid-1990s.