Self-driving cars could be on UK roads by 2026 after new law is signed

Self-driving cars could be on UK roads by 2026 following the introduction of the Automated Vehicles Act, which sets out the rules governing the much-vaunted technology.

At its core, the new legislation is about safer roads, bolstering self-driving tech in a bid to reduce human error which the government said contributes to 88 per cent of road collisions.

And so self-driving cars will need to consistently operate at the same level as “a careful and competent human driver”. On top of that, they’ll also need to meet a raft of safety standards before being officially permitted to join the Secretary of State’s official list of self-driving cars before they head out into the wild.

The car has to be “designed or adapted to travel autonomously”, and be “capable of doing so, safely and legally” by a operator who has a “good reputation”, the cash to put things right and a respect for the rules. In the event that something goes wrong in autonomous mode, the Act clearly sets liability at the door of the operator, including “insurance providers, software developers and automotive manufacturers”.

Oxa is one of the UK’s leading companies on autonomous vehicle software development. Paul Newman, founder of Oxa, said: “We now have autonomous vehicle legislation, which is more comprehensive in scope and clearer in its requirements than in any other country.

“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.”

The government also claims the AVA shows the UK’s economic strength. It’s calculated that the sector could create over 38,000 jobs, bring £42 billion into the economy and enable those who struggle with personal mobility more freedom.

Alex Kendall, co-founder and boss of Wayve, said: “This is a critical milestone for the UK’s deployment of self-driving technology and cements the UK as a global leader in regulating this sector.

“Self-driving technology promises a safer, smarter and more sustainable future of transport. There’s still some way to go with secondary legislation before we can reap the full benefits of self-driving vehicles in the UK, but we are confident the government will prioritise these next steps so this technology can be deployed as soon as possible.”

Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC said: “This is a major step on the road to autonomous vehicles appearing on the UK’s roads. But there’s lots of work still to do, not least bringing drivers along on the journey. RAC research conducted last year showed 58 per cent of drivers are scared by the idea of fully autonomous vehicles and just 15 per cent 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.

“There are also some very practical hurdles to overcome, such as how the cars of tomorrow will be able to successfully and safely navigate the UK’s complex web of streets – especially with so many potholes and faded road markings.”