Driverless cars coming to Greater Manchester roads

Driverless cars will be on the roads of Greater Manchester next year after a five million pound research project was given the go-ahead.

Three autonomous vehicles will be tested on public roads between Stockport Railway Station and Manchester Airport from January.

The cars will be tested in real-world conditions, and at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.

A standby 'driver' will travel in each autonomous car at all times to take control if required.

Testing of a Westfield sports car, one of the proposed autonomous vehicles, has taken place on the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road as the Government announced that a transport, manufacturing and technology consortium had been awarded funding to bring self-driving vehicles to the streets of Greater Manchester.

Project Synergy will see three autonomous, electric Westfield GTM cars trialled on public roads between Stockport Railway Station and Manchester Airport from January next year as part of a three-year research study.