Self driving cars have been made legal on the UK’s roads including motorways after a new law was passed today.
The government’s Automated Vehicles Act has officially been made law and it means self-driving vehicles could be seen on our roads as soon as 2026.
The act, set to create 38,000 jobs, will also enshrine in law who is legally responsible when something goes wrong.
The government says the new law will reduce ‘human error’ responsible for 88 percent of all crashes on roads today.
It says deaths from drink driving, speeding, tiredness and ‘inattention’ will all be reduced as a result.
And drivers are being told they will not be made responsible if their self-driving car has a problem on the roads. Instead, drivers have been warned that their car insurance company will shoulder the responsibility along with vehicle makers.
The government stressed that the new law will make car manufacturers, software developers and insurance companies shoulder the blame and foot the bill.
The Department for Transport said: “The act 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.
“To ensure these vehicles are safe for British roads, the vehicle approval system 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.”
Mike Hawes, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Chief Executive, said: “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.
“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.
