Self-driving vehicles may soon be seen on roads in the UK by the end of this year following a significant licensing reform introduced by the government. This initiative will allow passengers to request an autonomous vehicle similar to ordering a traditional taxi, with the aim of boosting the UK economy in the coming years.
The Department for Transport, which is now accepting applications from operators, believes that self-driving cars could offer increased mobility for elderly and disabled individuals while potentially reducing the number of serious accidents on UK roads, predominantly caused by human error.
Simon Lightwood, the roads and buses minister, expressed optimism about the potential of self-driving vehicles to revolutionize travel in the UK, particularly benefiting disabled and older adults and fostering economic growth with the creation of skilled jobs nationwide. Safety remains a top priority in implementing this pilot scheme.
The rollout of self-driving vehicles marks a new phase in the ongoing pilot program, with all services subject to stringent safety evaluations to safeguard against cyber threats. Local authorities will also need to grant approval to ensure that the services align with regional needs.
US tech company Waymo initiated testing of self-driving cars in London last year, with current vehicles always having a human driver as a safety precaution. However, incidents such as a vehicle driving through a police cordon in Harlesden have sparked some controversy. Waymo clarified that the incident occurred with a driver in manual control, who has been suspended pending an investigation.
Waymo also issued an apology for disturbances caused by their vehicles getting stuck in a narrow cul-de-sac in East London. The company promised to restrict vehicle access to the area during testing to avoid similar disruptions in the future.
Other companies, including London-based startup Wayve and Chinese tech giant Baidu in partnership with Uber, have shown interest in introducing autonomous vehicles in the UK.