THIS week Taunton residents will have the opportunity to take a ride in cutting edge self-driving vehicles.

As part of a lead by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), self-driving vehicles will be coming to the county Town this weekend and next week.

Taunton residents are invited to attend The Great Self Driving Exploration on Sunday, September 25 and Tuesday, September 27.

There will be two stations running different events.

Somerset County Gazette: The self-driving pod.The self-driving pod.

At Vivary Park there will be a self-driving pod available to try from 10am to 1pm.

And at the St James' Street entrance to Somerset County Cricket Club there will be a self-driving shuttle.

The Great Self Driving Exploration roadshow in Taunton will allow residents a closer look at self-driving vehicles, ask questions, and even take a ride.

Self-driving vehicle technologies could help to improve everyone’s access to transport – wherever they live, whatever their income level, and whether they have a disability that currently limits their ability to access transport services.

The organisers of the study said: "These trials will help inform on the specific needs and concerns of those living in the South-West to enable these to be embedded into the design of these new services.

Somerset County Gazette: Self-driving shuttle.Self-driving shuttle.

"This is also a great opportunity for people in Taunton to experience self-driving vehicles and share their views on how these new technologies could work for them, making sure their voices are heard at the most senior level of the Department for Transport."

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles are working with BritainThinks in delivering this event to the people of Taunton.

The Auto-Shuttle and Auto-Pod vehicles will be provided by autonomous transport company Aurrigo.

A safety supervisor will always be on board, ready to take control should there be any requirement to do so and there will be people on hand to help answer any other questions you might have.

Gordon Hollins, Somerset County Cricket Club CEO said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to host the trial here at the Cooper Associates County Ground. Somerset County Cricket Club prides itself on engaging with events of this innovative nature and we are really excited to witness the technology in action at the ground and around Taunton.”

Councillor Sarah Dyke, Somerset County Council’s lead member for environment and climate change said: “This is a really exciting event which will give people a chance to experience travelling in green self-driving vehicles in Taunton, as well as learning about the technology behind the project.

"This is very much about looking for real solutions which can help cut Co2 and make our town centres healthier and greener places to live and work in."