Road Permissions for AVs in 2030, 2040
In 2030 it is simple: only on freeways (OSM "motorway") will AVs be allowed to drive autonomously. On other roads the driver will need to take the wheel.
In 2040, AVs will be allowed to drive autonomously on both freeways and roads within settlements. On other roads, the driver will need to take the wheel.
We need to implement these concepts in our MATSim code.
- We need a script that takes a shapefile and then: 1a. gives all links within said shapefile the attribute "AV_Operation_True" or however you'd like to name the attribute that indicates AV can operate autonomously on the link. 1b. gives all links with the OSM tag "motorway" the attribute "AV_Operation_True". 1c. finds the most direct routes between said shapefiles and the closest "motorway" and gives the links of that route the attribute "AV_Operation_True". 1d. makes sure larger shapes (like shapes with a population over 30k or 50k, perhaps) have more than one route to the nearest motorway. 1e. if the most direct route between two shapes is NOT using the routes that were created when the shapes were connected to the closest freeway, find the most direct route between said two shapes using the OSM class "primary" and give those links the attribute "AV_Operation_True". 1f. make sure the above code allows for small gaps in the "primary" and "motorway" networks, especially in step 1e.
For the Scenario 2040 I would not give any links that are not either within a shapefile or "motorway' or "primary" links the "AV_Operation_True" attribute because the rational behind the stepwise spread of roads where AV operation is allowed is as follows: it will take time to make sure AVs can handle complexity (the Autobahn is simple) and high speeds (urban streets have low speed limits) at the same time. Secondary and tertiary roads in non-urban areas are both complex and allow for high speeds. Thus these roads will be the last to allow AVs to operate autonomously, aka will only be AV-operational in 2050. It will also presumably be expensive to install the infrastructure needed for AVs to safely and reliably drive autnomously (they may need beacons, extra cellular data towers, or even more intensive communications infrastructure), and thus roads with very high flows or economic importance (like Autobahns and city streets) will be upgraded before roads with low flows.