The UK has taken a major step forward in regulating self-driving vehicles, becoming a global leader by enacting a law that changes who is liable when accidents happen in autonomous mode.
The Automated Vehicles (AV) Act came into force in the UK this week (May 20, 2024) and sets a groundbreaking legal framework that formally transfers liability for crashes from drivers to corporations like software developers and automotive manufacturers when self-driving systems are engaged.
The Act allows for self-driving vehicles to be deployed on British roads from 2026, though in reality full-scale deployments are likely to take longer as rigorous safety standards must be met. The law requires self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as careful and competent human drivers, and in reality public opinion is likely to require even higher levels.
As Richard Cuerden from TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) states: “Commercial success will only be possible if the public has trust in the technology and chooses to use AVs. Here safety is key.”
The potential safety benefits are clear with automated vehicles expected to improve road safety by reducing human error, which contributes to 88 per cent of road collisions.
“We now have autonomous vehicle (AV) legislation which is more comprehensive in scope and clearer in its requirements than in any other country,” says Paul Newman, founder and CTO of Oxa. “The Act gives the UK new momentum as developers like Oxa will need to comply with the world’s most comprehensive autonomous vehicle laws to deploy technology in vehicles here.”
Alex Kendall, Co-founder and CEO of Wayve, agrees it’s a “critical milestone for the UK’s deployment of self-driving technology” that “cements the UK as a global leader in regulating this sector.”
Between 2018 and 2022, the UK self-driving vehicle sector alone generated £475 million of direct investment and created 1,500 new jobs. Self Driving Vehicles could support areas previously impacted by driver shortages, such as haulage, and where work can be dangerous, such as mining.
“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,” says UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper “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, in a real boost to both safety and our economy.”
