Vehicle Technology Testing
How do automated vehicles work and how will this technology be tested?
What are the potential benefits of automated vehicles?
Why does Manitoba want to allow the testing of vehicle technology on public roads?
What is Bill 20, The Vehicle Technology Testing Act (Various Acts Amended)?
Who is developing the regulation and permitting system for vehicle technology testing?
Who may be interested in Manitoba’s efforts to allow testing of vehicle technology on public roads?
Who will be able to test vehicle technology?
Who is interested in testing vehicle technology in Manitoba?
What is Manitoba’s role in testing and deploying automated vehicles?
Why do we need to test automated vehicles on public roads in Manitoba?
Where will vehicle technology be allowed to test in Manitoba?
Is testing only available to Manitoban companies and is there a fee?
What permit conditions will need to be followed in order to test vehicle technology in Manitoba?
What other provinces and jurisdictions allow testing of vehicle technology on roads?
What is the province using to establish a vehicle technology testing system?
What happens if a vehicle operated under a testing permit is involved in an accident?
When can testing of vehicle technology begin in Manitoba?
Who is liable if an automated vehicle being tested crashes and how is it insured?
What are the benefits for Manitoba to allow vehicle technology testing?
Are automated vehicles considered safe?
How will automated vehicles impact mobility and technology in Manitoba?
Will automated vehicles be more vulnerable to hacking or software vulnerabilities?
Where can I find out more information about technology testing on roads in Manitoba?
Question: What are autonomous vehicles?
Answer: Autonomous or automated vehicles are commonly known as self-driving cars. They use a combination of sensors, controllers and onboard computers that allow the vehicle to control driving functions such as steering, braking and acceleration instead of a human driver.
Automated vehicles are classified based on a progressing scale of automation. Vehicles with lower levels of automation (levels 0, 1 and 2) are currently available for sale and use in Canada. These vehicles have such features as adaptive cruise control and park assist. However, conditionally or fully automated vehicles (levels 3, 4 and 5) are vehicles that can drive without human assistance. Currently, there are no vehicles with Level 3 or above automation available for purchase in Manitoba.
Question: How do automated vehicles work and how will this technology be tested?
Answer: With the aid of artificial intelligence, global positioning systems, and sensors, an automated vehicle can sense the environment, and also drive itself without human-in-the-loop. A few of the functions that automated vehicles can control are steering, breaking, acceleration, and monitoring the driving environment.
Technology testing may include Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I). Aspects of the testing will be taking place on the designated highways or approved locations in Manitoba.
Question: What are connected vehicles?
Answer: Connected vehicles do not make decisions for the driver. Wireless technology enables two-way data flow that provides information to the driver and allows the vehicle to communicate with other vehicles and transportation infrastructure such as roadways and traffic lights. Connected vehicle technology often appears with automated vehicles.
Question: What are the potential benefits of automated vehicles?
Answer: The potential of automated vehicles is broad. It encompasses economic, social and environmental impacts, and the cascading benefits extend beyond transportation. The cross-sectoral potential of automated vehicles between the transportation sector and other sectors as of now are:
- Creation of jobs in the information, communication and technology and manufacturing sectors,
- Increase in agricultural output,
- Economic inclusion of the disabled and rural communities,
- Seamless interconnectivity between rural and urban communities, and,
- Many others.
The net effect of automated vehicles across all sectors will be an increase in productivity and connectivity. Automated vehicles also have the potential to:
- Reduce traffic collisions through improved collision avoidance and reduced driver error
- Reduce traffic congestion
- Improve fuel efficiency
- Reduce vehicle emissions and fossil fuel consumption
- Improve convenience, time savings and reduced stress for commuters and drivers
- Enhance mobility and mobility equity
- Improve efficiency of infrastructure
- New transportation service models
Question: Why does Manitoba want to allow the testing of vehicle technology on public roads?
Answer: The Manitoba government committed to establishing a legislative framework to enable the testing of vehicle technology such as automated vehicles on public roads in the province.
Allowing businesses to test emerging vehicle technologies on public roads in the province will support Manitoba’s agriculture, trucking, vehicle manufacturing, and technology development sectors. Numerous technologies are in development and ready for testing that would advance opportunities for Manitoba business.
Manitoba is also proactively taking steps for the inevitable introduction of automated vehicles worldwide, and turning attention to the implications for road safety, mobility, infrastructure and land use planning.
Question: What is Bill 20, The Vehicle Technology Testing Act (Various Acts Amended)?
Answer: Bill 20 received Royal Assent on May 20, 2021. The bill enables the testing of automated and connected vehicles through amendments to The Highway Traffic Act to allow the Minister of Infrastructure to create regulations establishing a system for testing vehicle technology and vehicle types. Amendments also allow the Minister or delegate to issue permits with conditions to organizations who want to test vehicles and vehicle technology on Manitoba roads.
Amendments to The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act and The Insurance Act were also required to create an insurance framework to ensure financial protection is in place in the event of any physical damages or injuries caused by a testing vehicle. This will ensure that Manitoba Public Insurance ratepayers are not exposed to unnecessary costs and risks by testing vehicles.
Question: Who is developing the regulation and permitting system for vehicle technology testing?
Answer: Due to the range of issues related to testing vehicle technology on public roads, provincial departments and agencies are collaborating through an interdepartmental Vehicle Technology Testing Working Group, coordinated by Manitoba Infrastructure. The group is developing policies and a permitting and regulatory framework for testing vehicle technology on roads, in consultation with key stakeholders and interested parties.
Question: Who may be interested in Manitoba’s efforts to allow testing of vehicle technology on public roads?
Answer: Parties and groups interested in vehicle technology testing on public roads include manufacturers, information technology groups, industry regulators, insurance companies, road safety advocates, infrastructure designers/owners, municipalities, First Nations, law enforcement, first responders, academia and researchers, and citizens at large including pedestrians, cyclists, other vulnerable road users and persons with disabilities.
Question: Who will be able to test vehicle technology?
Answer: Once a vehicle technology testing permitting system is established by regulation, an organization interested in testing technology on Manitoba roads will need to apply for a permit and meet certain requirements and conditions before they are authorized to test vehicle technology on public roads.
Question: Who is interested in testing vehicle technology in Manitoba?
Answer: Various companies in manufacturing and transportation including agricultural equipment and bus manufacturers are interested in testing vehicle technology on Manitoba roads.
Question: What is Manitoba’s role in testing and deploying automated vehicles?
Answer: In Canada, the federal government regulates vehicles; however, the provinces and territories regulate the use of vehicles on public roads. Before automated driving systems are deployed for public use on roads, testing of vehicles is needed. Interested provinces can regulate the testing of these vehicles on their roads under their regulatory system. Manitoba is interested in allowing the safe testing on Manitoba public roads to support local industry and prepare for the future deployment of automated vehicles.
Question: Why do we need to test automated vehicles on public roads in Manitoba?
Answer: Vehicle technology is evolving rapidly and industries and companies, some based in Manitoba, are interested in testing vehicle technology on roads in Manitoba. Companies interested in testing locally will not need to leave the province to test vehicle technology.
Question: Where will vehicle technology be allowed to test in Manitoba?
Answer: When a vehicle technology testing permitting system is established, conditions for testing including roads and locations in Manitoba will be determined. The conditions will be determined in consultation with traffic authorities, which includes cities, towns and municipalities.
Question: Is testing only available to Manitoban companies and is there a fee?
Answer: No, any company interested in testing in Manitoba is eligible to apply for a testing permit. Manitoba is not contemplating charging an application fee for testing at this time.
Question: What permit conditions will need to be followed in order to test vehicle technology in Manitoba?
Answer: Permit conditions will be developed during the vehicle technology testing regulation-development stage. Permit conditions may include insurance requirements, safety requirements, operational design conditions including speed, time of day, geographic limitations, weather conditions, traffic conditions, etc.
Question: Will there be any identifying markers that will be required to be present on these vehicles for testing or use in Manitoba?
Answer: Companies authorized to test on Manitoba roads will be required to display a sign in their rear-facing window indicating when the vehicle is being tested.
Question: Where will automated vehicles be allowed to operate in Manitoba during the testing phase? Will testing be on any public road or highway, and are there any maximum or minimum speed limits?
Answer: The Minister of Infrastructure and traffic authority will determine what public roads will be allowed for testing. The conditions of the permit will outline the parameters of the testing including road locations and speed limits. All testing vehicles must abide by the rules of the road prescribed in The Highway Traffic Act.
Question: Is a driver required to be in the driver seat and able to take control at all times when testing an automated vehicle?
Answer: Yes, while a vehicle is being tested, a driver will be required to sit in the driver’s seat in the event that control of the vehicle is required. However, Manitoba is considering allowing use of a remote driver who would be outside the vehicle, with conditions including that the remote driver could take control of a vehicle when required.
Question: What other provinces and jurisdictions allow testing of vehicle technology on roads?
Answer: In Canada, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec allow testing of automated vehicles on public roadways. Several other jurisdictions in Canada have indicated they are planning to allow automated vehicle testing in the near future. Some municipalities in Canada are participating in automated vehicle testing pilot programs.
Manitoba and other Canadian jurisdictions are working towards a coordinated approach for introducing automated vehicles on public roads to ensure policies and regulations are aligned. This way testing organizations can operate consistently across Canada.
Maintaining regulatory alignment with the United States is equally important given the integration of the North American transportation sector. In the United States, there are over 29 states that have enacted legislation that allow automated vehicles to be operated on roadways, with various degrees of oversight and regulation.
Question: What is the province using to establish a vehicle technology testing system?
Answer: Establishing a legislative framework is the first step towards the safe testing of automated and connected vehicles on roads in Manitoba. Our legislative framework will align with jurisdictional guidelines and best practices including the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators’ Canadian Jurisdictional Guidelines for the Safe Testing and Deployment of Highly Automated Vehicles, as well as Transport Canada’s Testing Highly Automated Vehicles in Canada: Guidelines for Trial Organizations.
Question: What happens if a vehicle operated under a testing permit is involved in an accident?
Answer: An organization that receives a vehicle technology testing permit is required to hold a private third-party liability insurance policy. If a testing vehicle is responsible for a collision that causes injuries or property damage, permit holders will be responsible for reimbursing Manitoba Public Insurance for costs in proportion to the degree of responsibility the testing vehicle has for the accident.
Question: When can testing of vehicle technology begin in Manitoba?
Answer: Regulations that establish a vehicle technology testing permit system must be developed before a permit can be issued allowing an organization to test vehicle technology on roads in Manitoba. Regulation and permit development system is underway. It is anticipated that the permitting system could be launched in early 2022.
Question: Who is liable if an automated vehicle being tested crashes and how is it insured?
Answer: In Manitoba, a testing organization will be responsible for holding an insurance policy with third party liability to cover collision damages and injuries. Manitoba Public Insurance will recover any collision damages and injuries from the policyholder.
Question: What are the benefits for Manitoba to allow vehicle technology testing?
Answer: Allowing developers to test emerging vehicle technologies on public roads in Manitoba will support Manitoba’s large agricultural, trucking, heavy vehicle manufacturing and technology development sectors. Numerous vehicle technologies are in development and ready for testing that would advance economic development opportunities for Manitoba.
Manitoba-based companies will not need to travel outside of the province to test vehicle technology. Manitoba’s climate and geography also provide conditions that companies may find attractive for testing vehicle technology and types.
Question: Are automated vehicles considered safe?
Answer: Safety is an essential factor in automation, particularly with automated vehicles. Human-made error while operating vehicles accounts for the numerous severity of crashes. Automated vehicles have the potential of reducing crashes and injuries via early warning signs and using alternative route/drives or maneuvers. Automated vehicles have technologies that can communicate with vehicles within proximity. The ability for proximity automated vehicles to share communication could save lives, reduce injuries and assist with better analysis for more informed decisions.
Safe testing and use of automated vehicles is allowed but must meet federal, provincial and municipal requirements. Any automated vehicle operating in Canada must comply with the Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations.
Question: How will automated vehicles impact mobility and technology in Manitoba?
Answer: The features and capabilities of automated vehicles are designed to prioritize, safety, convenience, and mobility, through the use of advanced technology. With the exchange of information, automated vehicles may reduce congestion and traffic congestion in Manitoba. Automated vehicles are interconnected with other transportation sectors such as trains and busses. Automated vehicles could create broader opportunities in these sectors, particularly in the research and development aspects.
In the future, automated vehicles have the potential to provide better transportation services for seniors, people with disabilities or based in rural communities, and low-income families that experience difficulties accessing transportation.
Question: Will automated vehicles be more vulnerable to hacking or software vulnerabilities?
Answer: Given the interconnectedness of safety and security, the federal Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act, which came into effect March 1, 2018, included regulations and the performance baseline for automated and connected vehicles including cyber-security the equipment that must be met. This federal legislation provides several enforcement tools that encourage compliance and enforcement. Cybersecurity is a shared priority amongst several federal agencies such as the Communications Security Establishment, Public Safety Canada, Defence Research and Development Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Manitoba will continue to work with leading cyber-security agencies to prioritize the safety of its citizens, particularly during the testing phase with the trial organizations. In Manitoba, trial organizations will need to demonstrate that they meet cyber-security best practices. Cyber-security is a shared responsibility between all levels of government, citizens, and the private sectors.
Question: Where can I find out more information about technology testing on roads in Manitoba?
Answer: Manitoba Infrastructure will be developing a website on vehicle technology testing to include updates on new developments in vehicle technology testing and automated vehicles on Manitoba roads, with future opportunities for public input through the Engage Manitoba portal.
Public information on automated and connected vehicles in Canada is currently available on Transport Canada’s website at:.
Driver assistance technologies:.
Automated and connected Vehicles:.
https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/innovative-technologies/connected-automated-vehicles
