By 2026, the UK might see its streets filled with self-driving cars, marking a significant leap in automotive innovation and road safety.
This is all thanks to the Automated Vehicles Act, a new law enacted yesterday (May 20, 2024), which paves the way for fully autonomous vehicles on UK roads within the next few years.
First mentioned in the King's Speech, the AV Act could create over 38,000 new jobs in a £42 billion industry, according to the government.
The new law mandates that all self-driving vehicles must match the safety standards of careful and competent human drivers and pass additional safety checks. The government also noted that this could help reduce deaths and injuries from drink-driving, speeding, and driver fatigue.
While these self-driving cars will still require occasional human input, the new law specifies that drivers won't be held responsible for the vehicle's actions when it operates autonomously. Instead, legal responsibility will fall on the manufacturer and the car's insurance company, with the driver considered a 'user-in-charge' rather than a traditional driver.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper celebrated the act, stating, “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.”
“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”.
Industry reactions are generally positive. Mike Hawes, head of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, called it “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.”
However, public opinion is still divided on the idea of self-driving cars filling our streets. The RAC found that 58% of people are scared of fully autonomous vehicles, and only 15% believe they would make streets safer.
“There are also some very practical hurdles to overcome,” said Simon Williams, the RAC’s head of policy. “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.”
A key part of the new law is cracking down on manufacturers misrepresenting their cars as 'full self-driving.' This issue has already caused trouble for Tesla in the U.S., where courts found “reasonable evidence” suggesting Elon Musk and other executives knew about defects in Tesla’s semi-autonomous system.