Semi-automated heavy vehicle platoons on UK motorways

This paper describes the concept and the technology involved in vehicle platooning on roads carrying mixed traffic. Platooning heavy vehicles together with short headways offers potential fuel savings and is expected to be of interest to the logistics industry if benefits can be realised in realworld conditions. It is argued that a suitably designed trial would help to characterise the operational benefits and the paper explores the feasibility of such platooning trials on UK roads through a range of trial scenarios. In planning a trial, a number of key safety, legal and organisational issues need to be addressed and these are outlined. The paper also lists the parameters which should be collected as part of any trial. It is concluded that the technology is sufficiently ready that trials can be undertaken on live roads given suitable preparations and safeguards.