With new technologies such as autonomous vehicles promising to revolutionise transportation, consumer acceptance will pose a big challenge -- especially by those who drive for a living
ADVERTISEMENTThe rise of self-driving, or autonomous, vehicles has been sharp. But not everyone is convinced of the merits of the technology - least of all those whose jobs involve driving.
Euronews asked the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to address concerns of people worried about losing their jobs to vehicles that drive themselves.
"We need different kind of planning, we need planning where the riders are engaged, the workers are engaged, the legislators are invited, the mayors are invited, that capitals are involved because we believe we need to build different infrastructure to give us the cities of the future that people should have," said Stephen Cotton, general secretary of ITF.
He said the new technology was all about introducing "clean, environmentally friendly, seamless, interlocking, interconnecting model, different modes of transport.
"Our conversation is: Okay, technology is coming; how do we engage? What do we have to change? What different skills do we need? Who's going to pay for the upgrade of these skills? And basically ours is a challenge ... let's have the conversation."
The ITF is calling on governments to consider how best to manage the transition, particularly for those earning a living driving vehicles that may soon drive themselves.
