TxDOT forms smart car task force

Autonomous car technology is such a rapidly advancing field that the Texas Department of Transportation has decided to form a task force to be a one-stop resource on all related advancements, investments and initiatives in the state. The Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Task Force will host industry forums and encourage collaboration in the field of mobility technology. The city of Austin is a leader in smart mobility, with several pilot projects in the hopper for 2019, following on the heels of its successful signal-phasing project with the U.S. Department of Transportation that deployed short-range communication technology at five Austin intersections. In 2017, the state passed a law allowing self-driving cars on public roads. TxDOT hopes the CAV task force will encourage further innovation and investment in autonomous vehicles in the interest of improving highway safety.