Highways Designated as Pilot Zones for Autonomous Vehicles, Autonomous Freight Transport Begins in Earnest
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport will designate pilot zones for autonomous freight transport on long-distance routes and highways under the revised "Autonomous Vehicle Act." They will also establish and announce the first licensing standards for autonomous freight transport businesses to reduce industry uncertainty.
Pilot zones are special areas where various regulatory exemptions, such as for paid transport and vehicle safety standards, are granted to demonstrate services using autonomous driving. In January, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport revised the "Autonomous Vehicle Act" to allow the ministry to designate wide-area routes, like highways, as pilot zones through consultations with cities and provinces, even without their formal applications.
The "Autonomous Vehicle Act" allows paid transport services in pilot zones but lacked specific standards for freight transport. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has now set detailed criteria and procedures for licensing autonomous freight transport businesses, based on expert feedback.
With the conditions now set for autonomous freight transport, Korea Expressway Corporation plans to actively prepare for showcasing autonomous freight transport on highways by signing MOUs with autonomous freight transport companies to ensure mutual cooperation.
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