PAVE: What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your work with AVs?
New vehicles now include AV technologies such as sensors and cameras. It is important that we prepare our infrastructure for this. The upcoming Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Part 5 Automated Vehicle stresses consistency and uniformity of signs and pavement markings for AVs.
PAVE: How is Florida preparing for AVs? What steps have you taken?
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has already implemented many of the MUTCD recommendations for pavement markings to support AVs. For example, FDOT has adopted 6-inch width for longitudinal lines, dotted edge line extensions along entrance and exit ramps, chevron markings in neutral areas of exit gores, and broken lines of at least 10 feet in length with a maximum gap of 30 feet.
PAVE: What AV deployments/tests have taken place in Florida?
FDOT has participated in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) AV TEST Initiative. The AV TEST initiative page shows all the AV test sites in Florida. There are about 12 AV test sites in Florida now. Please visit the NHTSA’s AV TEST page for more details.
Read more about the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and its work with Autonomous Vehicles on their website here or follow them on social media @MyFDOT.
