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Minister Harbers (IenW) answers questions about the message that unmanned shuttle buses are no longer allowed to drive almost anywhere.

The Hague carrier HTM has been trying for years to get the green light to drive an unmanned shuttle on the public road to and from the Haga Hospital. Nevertheless, there are concerns from HTM about the future of unmanned transport in the Netherlands, while unmanned transport is on the rise in neighboring countries.

Reason enough for Van der Graaf (ChristenUnie) to question the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers about this. With regard to HTM's question, Harbers in turn refers to the Road Traffic Service (RDW), which as an independent inspection body has the task of assessing whether or not a vehicle can be admitted to the public road.

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He cannot therefore make a statement about the stopping of the shuttle from The Hague. In the case of the shuttle in The Hague, the RDW, in the case of the shuttle in The Hague, has judged, partly on the basis of a SWOV report and also in view of the complex environment with vulnerable road users, that the safety of the vehicle has not been sufficiently demonstrated.

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Minister Harbers indicates that it is up to the RDW to assess whether a vehicle is allowed on the road.

Nevertheless, the impression has arisen that the RDW adjusts its policy with regard to the unmanned shuttle every few months. Despite the Minister not talking about the assessment framework, he does refer to the fact that the policy rule is regularly evaluated and adjusted where necessary on the basis of what has been learned in practice and relevant national and international developments. His Ministry thus endorses the importance of a clear and unambiguous assessment framework.

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assessment frameworks

In view of the innovative character and the ambition to continue to learn and innovate, the assessment frameworks for practical tests will be further developed over time in line with international developments and the experience already gained in the Netherlands. The ultimate goal is to arrive at formal regulations for the approval of innovative vehicles through practical tests.

In any case, when asked to the Minister to indicate what is required to be admitted, Harbers indicates that it is up to the RDW, as an independent inspection body, to assess whether a vehicle is allowed on the public road. In the case of the shuttle from The Hague, the RDW, partly on the basis of a SWOV report and also in view of the complex environment with vulnerable road users, has ruled that the safety of the vehicle has not been sufficiently demonstrated.

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In 2021, consultancy firm Goudappel, commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, conducted research into self-driving shuttles in the European Union. The results of this investigation are public. This study shows which pilots and tests with shuttles were carried out within the European Union at the time of the study. This study also examines the requirements that were imposed on unmanned public transport through various countries within the European Union at the time of the study. The report concludes that each EU country has its own assessment criteria and bodies that deal with the admission of a pilot or trial.

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