Self-driving vehicles could be on UK roads from 2026 after the new bill became law this week. According to the government, the Automated Vehicles Act enables 'advanced technology' to 'drive safely on Britain's roads'.
Autonomous cars and vans could be allowed onto roads if they 'achieve a level of safety at least as high as careful and competent human drivers', said the Department for Transport.
Crucially the new legislation means that, when a vehicle is in a self-driving mode, the driver will not be held responsible for how it responds. For the first time, companies such as insurance providers, software developers and car manufacturers will bear the legal culpability, with the person behind the wheel deemed not a 'driver' but a 'user-in-charge.'
'A boost to safety and the economy'
The impact this will have on insurance premiums – which have recently grown year-on-year and can be prohibitively expensive for new and inexperienced drivers – has yet to be seen.
Additionally, the government said vehicle approvals will be supported by a 'completely independent incident investigation function'. This will 'promote the same culture of learning and continuous improvement that has made our aviation industry one of the safest in the world'. Companies will have ongoing obligations to keep their vehicles safe and ensure that they continue to drive in accordance with British laws.
Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper said: “While this doesn't take away people's ability to choose to drive themselves, our 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”.
Drivers 'scared' by autonomous cars
The government speculated that introducing self-driving vehicles could improve road safety. It says driver error accounts for 88 percent of car accidents, and that injuries and deaths caused by drink-driving, speeding, tiredness and inattention could be 'drastically reduced'.
Motoring organization the RAC welcomed the announcement, but cautioned there is plenty of work to be done to get drivers behind the plans.
“RAC research conducted last year showed 58 percent of drivers are scared by the idea of fully autonomous vehicles and just 15 percent think they'll make the roads safer, so there needs to be a real culture change if we're to see the public. fully embrace them,” said RAC spokesperson on road safety, Simon Williams.
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