Autonomous vehicle public consultation focused on safety
Motorists and industry stakeholders have been invited to take part in an autonomous vehicle public consultation focused on establishing safety standards.
The consultation, which runs until 9 September, has been published by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and Department for Transport to help establish safety principles for self-driving vehicles.
It follows last month’s launch of a self-driving pilot scheme which allows companies to operate driverless commercial vehicles such as taxis, private hire vehicles, and shuttles without a human driver. As part of the pilot, operators will be expected to prove their vehicles meet stringent safety standards and have robust protection against cyber attacks.
The Automated Vehicles Act was passed into law in 2024, paving the way for the country to capitalise on an industry which could be worth up to £42bn by 2035 an create upwards of 38,000 skilled jobs.
New opportunities
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said: “Self-driving vehicles will offer new opportunities for Britain, helping to support independent travel for some disabled people and older adults, while unlocking billions of pounds for the economy by 2035, and supporting highly‑skilled jobs.
“The pilot scheme launched last month means people will experience this technology first-hand in carefully controlled conditions, while today’s consultation launch is a step towards clear and permanent rules on safety.
“Safety will always come first. By setting clear expectations now and learning from real-world trials, we can support innovation, protect road users and help make Britain a world leader in this technology.”
