Shop Insurance Canada says Ontario Presents Unique Challenges for Autonomous Vehicles

December 2, 2016 - Nearly a year after announcing its support for autonomous vehicle testing, Ontario has announced the first pilot program. Car insurance expert Shop Insurance Canada (ShopInsuranceCanada.ca) has followed the autonomous vehicle developments closely and says there are both positives and negatives to be taken from Ontario's program.

Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) launched "the first automated vehicle (AV) pilot program in Canada" on Monday, Nov. 28. The program is being led by BlackBerry QNX, the Erwin Hymer, and the University of Waterloo.

The province announced support for driverless cars at the start of the year, saying it would become the first region in the country to give autonomous vehicle manufacturers a base to test their creations. With the launch of the pilot program today, Ontario announced a pilot that groups experts from the manufacturing, technology, and research sectors.

The program will "advance innovation and capability in Ontario's AV sector," the MTO explained in a statement.

Among the participants in the program is the WATCar Project at the University of Waterloo's Centre for Automotive Research. The team will test the Lincoln MKZ on the road and at various levels of automation.

The Erwin Hymer Group is a Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont. based automaker that will test the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van at different automation levels. As for BlackBerry, the software development giant will test the 2017 Lincoln with automated features.

After the pilot regulatory framework was announced in January, there were reports that Ontario was struggling to attract companies to participate in the program. Alongside road support, the province has provided $2.95 million in funding to support research and development of autonomous tech.

"Ontario's innovation ecosystem, with leading clusters in automotive, information technology, and cleantech, makes the province the ideal location to develop the disruptive technologies – like this AV pilot – that will shape the future of the industry," said Brad Duguid, Ontario's Minister of Economic Development and Growth, in the statement.

Positives and Negatives
Considering the profound impact autonomous technology will have on the insurance industry, online expert Shop Insurance Canada has followed the market closely. The company says that Ontario's openness for driverless cars is interesting because it is the first time Canada will see these vehicles up close.

Indeed, Shop Insurance Canada points out that the country actually presents a unique testing ground for developers of autonomous tech:

"One of the main concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles is whether they really can perform all the tasks of a driver. While testing has been extremely encouraging, enough to make these vehicles close to showrooms, there are still doubts about their safety under certain driving conditions. Canada, with its severe winters and snow, could provide a deep test of driverless technology in the worst of conditions."

Yes, auto insurance companies will be impacted by the growth of the autonomous market in the coming decades. However, there is no doubt that the tech is here to stay, and we are now at the dawn of the autonomous age in Canada.

About Shop Insurance Canada
Shop Insurance Canada is a Toronto based company that specializes in delivering the best auto insurance products to customers around Ontario and Canada. The online car insurance quoting tool uses an engine that is easy to use and accurate enough to deliver the best auto insurance quotes from over 25 of Canada's leading providers. Shop Insurance Canada also offers expert advice on the auto insurance industry, as well as guides and news to help customers find the best deal possible.

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