UK passes law to allow driverless cars on public roads
The UK has approved legislation for autonomous vehicles (AVs) on public roads.
The Automated Vehicles (AV) Act still needs secondary legislation but could see driverless cars on UK roads within two years. The Act requires self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as careful and competent human drivers, as well as meeting rigorous safety checks before being allowed onto roads.
The Act also delivers the most comprehensive legal framework of its kind worldwide, setting out who is liable for AVs meaning that drivers can be assured that, while their vehicle is in self-driving mode, they will not be held responsible for how the vehicle drives. For the first time, corporations such as insurance providers, software developers and automotive manufacturers can assume this responsibility.
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The Act also sets out a vehicle approval system with a completely independent incident investigation function, based on the Accident Investigation Board for aviation.
Companies will have ongoing obligations to keep their vehicles safe and ensure that they continue to drive in accordance with British laws. Whether this will require a ‘black box’ data recorder that is mandatory for aircraft is an issue for the secondary legislation.
The AV Act follows self-driving trials already taking place across the country with Wayve and Oxa trialling self-driving cars in London and Oxford and Nissan testing self-driving cars in London.
“The act gives the UK new momentum as developers like Oxa will need to comply with the world’s most comprehensive autonomous vehicle laws to deploy technology in vehicles here. Meeting the highest AV standards will make British companies global leaders with technology that is the safest and AI systems the most trusted – all key to building business and public trust in autonomy globally,” said Paul Newman, Founder and CTO of Oxa, formerly Oxbotica.
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“The automated technology, software and sensors, and the business models to deliver new services, are developing fast. By setting a regulatory framework, the government is providing the industry with confidence and motivation to continue to and we expect to increase investment in the UK, in this growing sector,” said Richard Cuerden, Director at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL).
Wayve has said that the project has been supported by the UK’s Code of practice: automated vehicle trialling, which sets out a clear framework to support and promote the safe trials of self driving vehicle technology starting in Greenwich in 2016.
Between 2018 and 2022, the UK self-driving vehicle sector alone generated £475 million of direct investment and created 1,500 new jobs. Self-driving vehicles could support areas previously impacted by driver shortages, such as haulage, and where work can be dangerous.
“The immense work put in by DfT, Law Commissions and CCAV in crafting the Automated Vehicles Bill has helped it pass into law with the strongest cross-party backing. We now have autonomous vehicle legislation, which is more comprehensive in scope and clearer in its requirements than in any other country,” said Newman.
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“This is a watershed moment for UK automotive innovation and road safety in the UK. Self-driving vehicles will revolutionise our society, and this new law will help turn ambition into reality, putting the UK alongside a handful of other global markets that already have their regulatory frameworks in place,” said Mike Hawes, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Chief Executive.
“The industry will continue its close collaboration with government and other stakeholders to develop the necessary secondary legislation that will enable the safe and responsible commercial rollout of self-driving vehicles and the significant social and economic benefits they will afford the UK.”
“Britain stands at the threshold of an automotive revolution and this new law is a milestone moment for our self-driving industry, which has the potential to change the way we travel forever,” said UK Transport Secretary, Mark Harper. “While this doesn’t take away people’s ability to choose to drive themselves, our landmark legislation means self-driving vehicles can be rolled out on British roads as soon as 2026, in a real boost to both safety and our economy.”
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