Automated Vehicles Act to Revolutionise British Roads by 2026

Recent legislation has cleared the path for self-driving cars to grace British roads within the next couple of years. The law, dubbed the Automated Vehicles Act, is aimed at regulating vehicles before paving the way for the deployment of fully autonomous vehicles classified as "level four". Unlike their predecessors, these vehicles won't necessitate a "safety driver", enabling motorists to relinquish control and assume the role of mere passengers during transit.

The legislation aligns with the scale of automation developed by SAE International, recognizing six levels of automation ranging from manual to fully autonomous. Previously, British law only permitted vehicles up to level two, which offer limited automation.

Under the provisions of the Automated Vehicles Act, passengers relinquish responsibility for the vehicle's performance while in self-driving mode. Instead, liability shifts to entities such as vehicle manufacturers, insurance firms, or software developers. However, owners will still bear responsibility for ensuring roadworthiness and insurance coverage.

Proponents argue that automated vehicles hold the potential to enhance overall road safety by mitigating risks associated with human errors, such as drink-driving, speeding, and driver fatigue-factors contributing to approximately 88% of road collisions.

Trials for self-driving vehicles are already underway across the nation, with cities like London, Oxford, and Milton Keynes serving as testing grounds. Wayve, a British autonomous vehicle company, recently secured over $1 billion in funding to advance its commercialisation efforts.