Driverless cars could lead to more traffic

Some transportation experts warn that driverless vehicles may lead to more traffic.

• Self-driving cars confront urban traffic congestion
• Driverless cars may save lives, but will they kill driving?

"​We could end up with a lot of cars on the road," said AnnaLisa Meyboom, director of the Transportation Infrastructure and Public Space Lab (TIPSlab) research group at UBC. 

Meyboom spoke with guest host Stephen Quinn on CBC's The Early Edition on Monday.

"You've all sorts of potential extra people on the road that don't currently drive, including kids, dogs and people who are blind," she said. 

Re-imagine public transportation

Meyboom wants the government to re-imagine public transportation to include driverless cars. 

She suggests looking into autonomous shuttles that could carry about 10 people on either a fixed route or on demand. 

Or, she suggests a driverless taxi service, where you request a vehicle via your mobile phone, then a car picks you up and takes you to your destination. 

Meyboom admits though that such services will only work if they are available to everyone regardless of income or location.

Legislation needed

Meyboom said legislation would have to be brought into place for driverless transit services to work.

"Otherwise they may decide that area is profitable, that area isn't. Which means you will end up with no transportation services to certain areas in some cases, or you will end up with a very poorly monetized transportation system," she said. 

With files from the CBC's The Early Edition and Jake Costello.