There's been a lot of hype over the years about the future of autonomous vehicles – though mostly in cities, like San Francisco. But Joe Segale, the Vermont Agency of Transportation's director of policy, planning and research, would like to see self-driving cars being tested on Vermont roads.
"One of the reasons I'm interested in seeing these vehicles tested in Vermont is to see how they can handle driving on our backroads," Segale said.
He said he believes self-driving cars could have many benefits in a rural state like Vermont. For instance, Segale said artificial intelligence technology could keep drivers safe in snowy or icy weather conditions, and create more efficient and affordable modes of transportation.
He acknowledges that autonomous vehicles come with risks, including cybersecurity threats, potential job losses and liabilities in the case of accidents. But, he said, Vermont could be left behind if it's not prepared for a technology that may be inevitable.
Segale said he’s looking into how other states are preparing for autonomous vehicles, in order to help the Vermont Legislature determine how to move forward on the issue.
Listen to Segale's conversation with VPR's Mitch Wertlieb above.
