New inquiry launched into driverless cars

A parliamentary committee has announced an inquiry into the social implications of driverless vehicles in Australia.

The social impacts of using driverless cars, buses and trains in Australia will be the subject of a new parliamentary inquiry.

It will cover issues including social acceptance of the technology, how it might benefit people with limited mobility and implications for the industrial and public transport sectors.

Committee chair and coalition MP Michelle Landry on Thursday said the inquiry would help bridge a gap in the growing body of research about the emerging technology.