The public has until 28th September 2025 to have a say in how autonomous cars, buses and vans will be regulated in the near future.
Self-driving taxi, private hire and bus-like services are expected to begin in numerous regions of Britain next spring following a recent Downing Street decision to fast-track various pilots.
Launched yesterday, Monday 21st July, the UK Government is now asking for input from industry and the public on how the automated passenger services [APS] permitting scheme should function, and a draft statutory instrument, which will dictate how regulations will look once the technology goes live.
According to Department for Transport, safety, innovation and accessibility will be prioritised in order to create world-leading regulation. It is hoped self-driving vehicles can reduce the number of accidents on British roads, with human error responsible for 88% of all collisions. In particular, views are needed on the following issues:
*How self-driving vehicles can be made as accessible as possible for disabled and older people
*How services of self-driving vehicles are approved by councils
*When a permit to operate a service should be varied, suspended or withdrawn
Spring 2026 will see a number of trials introduced across the country, which will be the first time driverless vehicles have will be allowed on roads without a human safety driver. A wider rollout is expected the following year, when the Autonomous Vehicles Act is implemented — expected in the second half of the calendar. The Government claims this will help create 38,000 jobs, driving significant growth in the domestic engineering sector worth £42billion to the economy.
‘Self-driving vehicles are one of the most exciting opportunities to improve transport for so many people, especially those in rural areas or unable to drive,’ said Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood. ‘We want to work with passengers and industry to make this new form of transport safe and accessible, as we take our next steps towards adoption.
‘This technology doesn’t just have the potential to improve transport for millions of people,’ she continued. ‘It will help stimulate innovation, create thousands of jobs, and drive investment to put more money in people’s pockets – all part of delivering our Plan for Change.’
You can engage with the consultation here.
Image: Brock Wegner / Unsplash
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