{"id":689190,"date":"2025-09-10T07:45:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T04:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T07:45:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T04:45:17","slug":"is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Europe ready for self-driving cars?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3bb9703ea81\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3bb9703ea81\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars\/#How_AVs_could_reshape_our_cities\" >How AVs could reshape our cities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars\/#Rolling_back_the_rose-tinted_sun_roof\" >Rolling back the rose-tinted sun roof<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars\/#Infrastructure_needs\" >Infrastructure needs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars\/#The_regulatory_maze\" >The regulatory maze<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars\/#Mentality_shifts\" >Mentality shifts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/is-europe-ready-for-self-driving-cars\/#So%E2%80%A6_just_how_soon_will_we_see_AVs_on_European_streets\" >So\u2026 just how soon will we see AVs on European streets?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n<p>In a recent interview with TNW, Jelle Prins, the mind behind Uber\u2019s first <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>, shared his vision of a world transformed by autonomous vehicles. \u201cImagine getting into a car here in Amsterdam in the evening,\u201d he mused, \u201cand waking up the next morning in a mountain village in France for a day of snowboarding.\u201d In his mind, self-driving is the next step in the evolution of mobility, and the question is not <em>if<\/em> but <em>when<\/em> it will land in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>He shared his vision for this future \u2014 and his plans to design proteins using AI \u2014 with TNW founder Boris Veldhuijzen van Zaten in the latest episode of \u201cKia\u2019s Next Big Drive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Watch the full interview by clicking below:<\/p>\n<div class=\"resp-video-container\"><iframe title=\"Kia\u2019s Next Big Drive: The impact of AI on mobility and protein engineering \ud83d\ude97\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcdoc=\"&lt;style&gt;*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden}html,body{background:#000;height:100%}img{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;transition:opacity .1s cubic-bezier(0.4,0,1,1)}a:hover img+img{opacity:1!important}&lt;\/style&gt;&lt;a href=\" https:=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/-hVMTIVu6Es\/hqdefault.jpg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cyberdelia\/assets\/img\/ytplaybtn.png\" style=\"top: 50%;left:50%;width:68px;height:48px;transform:translate3d(-50%,-50%,0)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cyberdelia\/assets\/img\/ytplaybtn-hover.png\" style=\"top: 50%;left:50%;width:68px;height:48px;opacity:0;transform:translate3d(-50%,-50%,0)\"\/>&#8221; frameborder=&#8221;0&#8243; allow=&#8221;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&#8221; referrerpolicy=&#8221;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&#8221; allowfullscreen&gt;<\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kia.com\/nl\/modellen\/ev9\/ontdekken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Kia EV9<\/a> featured in the interview is a Level 2 autonomous vehicle, based on a 0-5 scale of driving automation. It uses Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), an advanced <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> that enables the car to drive more autonomously by matching the speed of the car in front, but a human driver is still needed. This is all part of automakers\u2019 gradual release of new adaptive technologies that are bringing us closer and closer to Level 5 autonomous vehicles, which don\u2019t require a driver at all.<\/p>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper channel-cta\">\n<div class=\"ica-text\">\n<p class=\"ica-text__title\">TNW City Coworking space &#8211; Where your best work happens<\/p>\n<p>A workspace designed for growth, collaboration, and endless networking opportunities in the heart of tech.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While AVs are being introduced at a gradual pace commercially, we can expect AVs to be adopted in public transport at a much more rapid pace. As part of Horizon 2020, the European Commission is currently funding research projects into driverless public transport across the EU. But the US, China, and more recently the UK, are already far ahead \u2014\u00a0and gaining speed.<\/p>\n<p>In the US, companies like Waymo (Alphabet\u2019s AV subsidiary) have already deployed commercial robotaxi services across Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. Next year, they plan to expand into Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, DC in 2026. In China, Baidu has tested its Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing service in over 15 cities, and is aiming for 100 cities by 2030.<\/p>\n<p>Even the UK, often slower to adopt emerging mobility tech, passed a landmark Automated Vehicles (AV) Act in 2024, creating a unified legal framework. Pilot AV programmes are slated for 2026, with Wayve and Uber already planning trials.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, the EU remains fragmented. With inconsistent infrastructure, patchy 5G coverage, and no shared regulatory roadmap, the bloc risks falling behind \u2014 unless it can harmonise standards and accelerate investment.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_AVs_could_reshape_our_cities\"><\/span><strong>How AVs could reshape our cities<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Imagine the canals of Amsterdam s<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trip<\/a>ped of parking spots and lined instead with trees, community gardens, and outdoor cafes. What if Barcelona\u2019s \u201csuperblocks,\u201d urban planning aimed at bringing traffic-restricted, pedestrian-friendly zones to city dwellers, could be brought to cities like Paris and Berlin?<\/p>\n<p>AVs could supercharge these trends, making cities more livable and accessible for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Living further outside the city could be less of a problem if your commute becomes part of your morning ritual. Passengers could enjoy a cup of coffee, read, or fire up their laptop without having to concentrate on the road.<\/p>\n<p>AVs could communicate and coordinate their movements with smart city infrastructure, allowing for real-time traffic management. This could lead to optimised routing, reduced congestion, and smoother traffic flow. For example, some cities are experimenting with dynamic traffic lights that adapt in real time to traffic conditions using sensors, cameras, and algorithms.<\/p>\n<p>Is Europe ready for an AV future?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rolling_back_the_rose-tinted_sun_roof\"><\/span><strong>Rolling back the rose-tinted sun roof<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Not all the potential consequences of AVs are positive. As with the rise of Uber, a wave of automation could disrupt millions of jobs in the transportation sector, from truck drivers to delivery workers and taxi operators.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.compact.nl\/articles\/the-economic-and-social-impacts-of-fully-autonomous-vehicles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">calculations by KPMG<\/a>, AVs could lower the cost of public transportation by up to 50%. Considering 600,000 people work in the transport and logistics sector in the Netherlands, the total loss of income could amount to \u20ac14bn a year if these jobs are lost. Reskilling programs need to be introduced for these workers.<\/p>\n<p>AVs also raise troubling ethical questions. For example, how should a car choose between two harmful outcomes in an unavoidable crash scenario? To prepare for this future, scholars are debating the best way to align such intelligent systems with human moral judgment.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also the issue of cybersecurity. As vehicles become more connected, they also become vulnerable to hacking, posing risks not only to passengers but to entire transportation systems. Last year, researchers developed a hack, dubbed <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/technology\/electric-vehicles\/madradar-hack-can-make-self-driving-cars-hallucinate-imaginary-vehicles-and-veer-dangerously-off-course\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MadRadar<\/a>, able to bypass anti-spoofing protections and make AVs hallucinate phantom cars on the road.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Infrastructure_needs\"><\/span><strong>Infrastructure needs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The future of autonomy hinges on more than software and sensors \u2014 it needs roads to match the tech. One glaring challenge is the lack of consistent signage and road standards across Europe. A<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/373228348_Impact_of_Traffic_Sign_Diversity_on_Autonomous_Vehicles_A_Literature_Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> 2023 literature review<\/a> highlights how variations in signage design, language, and placement across EU countries present significant hurdles for AVs, which rely on image recognition and machine learning to interpret their surroundings.<\/p>\n<p>Then there\u2019s the question of digital infrastructure. Reliable 5G networks, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and up-to-date digital maps are essential for real-time decision-making and safety. Cities that lack these assets risk being left behind.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_regulatory_maze\"><\/span><strong>The regulatory maze<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Finally, there\u2019s the matter of legislation. As of mid-2025, each EU member state has wildly varying rules on AV testing and deployment.<\/p>\n<p>Liability also remains a murky issue: if a self-driving car crashes, who\u2019s at fault \u2014 the manufacturer, the software developer, or the passenger?<\/p>\n<p>These inconsistencies could slow down adoption in Europe, even as tech giants in the US and China race ahead. Until governments create unified frameworks that ensure safety without stifling innovation, mass deployment will remain on the distant horizon.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mentality_shifts\"><\/span><strong>Mentality shifts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Whether or not AVs are actually safer than human drivers is still unclear. A <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/evmagazine.com\/self-drive\/waymos-avs-safer-than-human-drivers-swiss-re-study-finds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">study<\/a> by Swiss Re that came out this year claimed Waymo\u2019s autonomous vehicles have up to 92% fewer liability claims than human-driven cars. However, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.electropages.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/are-autonomous-vehicles-safer-than-human-driven-vehicles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">other studies<\/a> have highlighted that AVs still face challenges in complex scenarios like dawn\/dusk driving and turning at intersections, where they have higher accident rates compared to human drivers.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, a study into the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0968090X21000942\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">psychological biases drivers have about AVs<\/a> revealed that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>People hold AVs to higher safety standards than human drivers.<\/li>\n<li>Many overestimate their own driving abilities.<\/li>\n<li>The safer people <em>think<\/em> they are, the <em>more<\/em> they expect from an AV.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The researchers argued that focusing on safety as the key benefit of AVs may be the wrong approach.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So%E2%80%A6_just_how_soon_will_we_see_AVs_on_European_streets\"><\/span><strong>So\u2026 just how soon will we see AVs on European streets?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On \u201cKia\u2019s Next Big Drive,\u201d Prins predicted that self-driving vehicles will be on European roads \u201csoon.\u201d But the reality is more nuanced. Technologically, AVs are getting close. Societally and politically, we\u2019re still playing catch-up.<\/p>\n<p>The question is no longer <em>if<\/em> autonomous vehicles will arrive \u2014 but <em>how<\/em> we\u2019ll adapt when they do. Will we embrace the potential for greener, safer, and more accessible cities? Or will we replicate the mistakes of the past, replacing one set of problems with another?<\/p>\n<p>One thing is certain: the self-driving future isn\u2019t just about cars. It\u2019s about reimagining the way we live, move, and connect with the world around us. And that future is approaching fast.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/europe-ready-self-driving-cars\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a recent interview with TNW, Jelle Prins, the mind behind Uber\u2019s first app, shared his vision of a world transformed by autonomous vehicles. \u201cImagine getting into a car here in Amsterdam in the evening,\u201d he mused, \u201cand waking up the next morning in a mountain village in France for a day of snowboarding.\u201d In&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":689191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw-blurple?filter_last=1&fit=1280%2C640&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2025%2F08%2Fbit-cloud-Kh62DKFR4gM-unsplash.jpg&signature=df98ac148b8a312903558a069259abcb","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-689190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/689190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=689190"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/689190\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/689191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=689190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=689190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=689190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}