The transportation industry and the public are encouraged to help shape the future of self-driving cars as they are invited to share their views on making the first services safe and accessible before they become available next year.
Future Roads Minister Lillian Greenwood has launched discussions on the automated Passenger Services (APS) permit system and the accompanying statutory draft.
This is an important legal element of the way services like self-driving car taxis, private rentals and buses are regulated once they reach roads in the UK.
Safety, innovation, world-leading regulations and accessibility are at the forefront of consultation, aiming to reduce human error, which is deployed by automated vehicles and contribute to 88% of all road collisions.
Benefits of self-driving cars
Self-driving cars can offer greater choice and flexibility to make it easier for passengers to avoid, including time without socialization.
It also helps to introduce new public transport options in rural areas to increase community connectivity and improve mobility, accessibility and independence for people who cannot drive.
“Motorcycles are one of the most exciting opportunities to improve transportation, especially for rural people and those who cannot drive,” explained the future of Road Minister Lillian Greenwood.
“We want to work with passengers and the industry to ensure this new form of transportation is safe and accessible as we take the next step towards adoption.”
Promoting investment in the UK economy
The talks follow the recent government’s decision to quickly track autonomous vehicle pilots in spring 2026, helping to innovate and grow the industry.
This allows businesses to pilot small services for the first time without a safety driver, before wider deployment, if the Automobile Act is fully implemented from late 2027.
Advancing self-driving car pilots will create 38,000 jobs, put money in people’s pockets, drive investments in UK engineering excellence, and unleash £42 billion worth of industry by 2035.
How industry is shaping the future of self-driving cars
Through consultation, representative groups, industry stakeholders, trade unions, and members of the public can share opinions and influence future government policies in a variety of areas important for self-driving vehicles to operate safely and efficiently.
These include:
How to make self-driving cars accessible to disabled and elderly people, how to approve car services if permission to operate the service needs to be changed, suspended or withdrawn
“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the future,” said Gavin Jackson, CEO of OXA. “As the first company to try out self-driving cars on UK roads in 2016, we are pleased that the UK continues to advance towards making automotive services a commercial reality.
“The APS scheme allows for the deployment of innovative public transport services that will strengthen our current transport networks, making it easier and more accessible than ever.”
Strict safety requirements based on the Automated Vehicle Act
The APS scheme, when fully implemented in the second half of 2027, is an important part of the Automobile Act, which regulates self-driving vehicles such as taxes, private and buses.
The Automobile Act requires automated vehicles to at least achieve safety at the same height as a capable and discreet human driver, and to undergo rigorous safety tests before being allowed on the road.
Autonomous driving testing has been taking place in the UK since January 2015, with British companies Wayve and OXA leading the technology’s major breakthrough.
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