Self-Driving Trucks On I-5 Is A Great Idea, Says New Report

KIRKLAND, WA – With self-driving semi trucks increasingly becoming a likelihood, there's still the question of where to test them. Inrix, a company based in Kirkland, think they have the answer.

The I-5 corridor through Washington and Oregon would be an ideal place to test the trucks.

The company studied several high-volume freight corridors across the country and concluded that the conditions are right for the trucks, which would drive themselves but have someone on board to take over, just in case. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts.

"Based on INRIX research and analysis, the most ideal U.S. corridor for initial deployment when normalizing freight volume, route length, congestion and incident rates is I-5 from the Canadian border to Northern California," the company wrote in a press release announcing the report.

"This route scored the highest in our combined score due to its length and its high incident rate when compared to other low-congestion corridors."

The authors of the report say that picking the right testing area is crucial because the vehicles have the potential to clog roads and increase pollution.

Image via Inrix.