Autonomous trucks to be tested in Minnesota’s extreme winter road conditions

Oct 30, 2019 at 08:59 AM CST
A key benefit that is driving autonomous truck development is their increased safety. Large truck fatalities in the USA rose to an all-time high of 4,761 fatalities in 2017. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety there were 4,623 truck-involved crashes on the state’s road network in 2018 alone. Winter weather is particularly challenging for vehicles of all types. Snowy, slushy or icy winter road conditions are responsible for vehicle accidents that kill over 1,300 people and injure more than 116,800 others every year, according to the US Department of Transportation. More than 70% of the USA’s roads are located in regions that experience snow.

Oct 30, 2019 at 08:59 AM CST

A key benefit that is driving autonomous truck development is their increased safety. Large truck fatalities in the USA rose to an all-time high of 4,761 fatalities in 2017. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety there were 4,623 truck-involved crashes on the state’s road network in 2018 alone. Winter weather is particularly challenging for vehicles of all types. Snowy, slushy or icy winter road conditions are responsible for vehicle accidents that kill over 1,300 people and injure more than 116,800 others every year, according to the US Department of Transportation. More than 70% of the USA’s roads are located in regions that experience snow.