Self-driving vehicles

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Jun 2022 Closed: 24 Nov 2023 Parliament page
This inquiry is scrutinising the development and deployment of self-driving vehicles for use on the roads (also known as connected and autonomous vehicles).
6 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
3 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
24 Nov
2023
Report published
15 Sep
2023
Report published
8 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
8 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
16 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
16 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
26 Oct
2022
Oral evidence
26 Oct
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
8 Mar 2023
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Dr Siddartha Khastgir · Warwick Manufacturing Group Ed Houghton · DG Cities Lisa Johnson · Starship Technologies Mr Christian Wolmar Peter Stephens · Stagecoach Simon Morgan · Institute of Highway Engineers
16 Nov 2022
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Ashley Feldman · techUK Becky Guy · Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Ben Gardner · Pinsent Masons LLP Ian Wainwright · Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Mark Shepherd · The Association of British Insurers (ABI) Professor Jack Stilgoe · University College London
26 Oct 2022
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David Wong · Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Dr Alex Kendall · Wayve Professor Nick Reed · Reed Mobility Professor Paul Newman · Oxbotica Steve Gooding · RAC Foundation
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehicles HC 519 15 Sep 2023 11 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
11 results
1 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Self-driving vehicles offer potential benefits, but progress has been slower than predicted, breeding cynicism.
There is a broad range of possible uses for self-driving vehicles, and we believe they have the potential to improve transport connectivity with significant safety, productivity, and mobility benefits. However, over the last decade, progress in this technology has failed … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the premise and outlines how its existing CAM 2025 white paper, Automated Vehicles Bill, and CAVPASS safety programme already address the potential benefits and gradual uptake of self-driving vehicles, including considerations for disabled persons and public acceptance.
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2 Conclusion Rejected
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Expectations for self-driving vehicles are becoming more realistic, with circumscribed forms closer to reality.
Hopefully expectations of self-driving vehicle technology have become more realistic. Self-driving vehicles that can go anywhere at any time remain purely hypothetical, but in more circumscribed forms they can become reality. Nobody is likely to be taking a self-driving vehicle … Read more
Government Response
The government does not accept the Committee's view on the proposed safety ambition, stating that setting it too high could stifle innovation and that a level equivalent to a competent and careful human driver is currently appropriate. It highlights the Automated Vehicles Bill and the 'safe system' approach in CAM 2025 to manage safety.
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3 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Require Government to adopt a cautious, gradual approach to self-driving vehicle introduction.
In principle we welcome the introduction of self-driving vehicles, but the Government must take a cautious, gradual approach with the technology introduced only in well- defined and appropriate contexts. As such, we broadly welcome the strategy the Government has set … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, outlining existing definitions of self-driving vehicles and regulations for safe handovers from systems to drivers. It notes ongoing work through the CAVPASS program to consider driver education and licensing, alongside updates to The Highway Code and a communication toolkit.
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4 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Require Government to set a clearer, more stretching safety threshold for self-driving vehicles.
While it is widely assumed that self-driving vehicles will prove safer than human drivers, this is not a given. Optimistic predictions are often based on widespread self- driving vehicle usage that is decades away, or assertions about human error that … Read more
Government Response
The government noted the recommendation and outlined how the forthcoming Automated Vehicles Bill will provide a legal liability framework and detailed safety requirements, with specific requirements to be set in secondary legislation and developed through the CAVPASS programme, without committing to changing its proposed safety ambition.
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5 Recommendation Deferred
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Require Government to develop a strategy for the future of human driving skills.
Greater automation will reduce time spent driving. Over time drivers may become less practised and therefore less skilled. Conversely, the demands on drivers will grow as they will be called upon to retake control of vehicles in challenging circumstances with … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, but then deflects the recommendation regarding a strategy for human driving skills and testing to focus instead on plans for digitising Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) via the Automated Vehicles Bill and the National Highways Digital Roads programme to support self-driving infrastructure.
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6 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Self-driving vehicles must not impose new burdens on other road users or pedestrians.
The introduction of self-driving vehicles to the UK’s roads will affect all road users. We believe that this should not impose new responsibilities on other road users and pedestrians, limit their access to, or use of, public infrastructure or, crucially, … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts this recommendation and highlights the Automated Vehicles Bill, which will establish clear legal liability for companies, create a comprehensive safety framework with ongoing requirements and sanctions, enable new incident investigation processes, and protect consumers from misleading marketing.
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7 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Connected vehicles pose new complex challenges for safety, data access, and legal liability.
Connected vehicles pose new dangers, which the law must evolve to meet. A safety- led culture will require wide access to data, and this must be a higher priority than commercial confidentiality. Ensuring self-driving vehicles are roadworthy will be more … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the committee's conclusions and is addressing the challenges through the recently announced Automated Vehicles Bill, which clarifies legal liability and provides a framework for detailed safety and data sharing requirements. Specific requirements will be set out in secondary legislation and developed within the CAVPASS safety assurance programme, with ongoing collaboration with the insurance industry.
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8 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Lead efforts to resolve policy issues for safe deployment of self-driving vehicles by 2025.
The Government has put good structures in place, but it is not enough just to participate in or facilitate conversations about unresolved policy issues, including access to data, verifying roadworthiness, legal liability and insurance implications. If self-driving vehicles are to … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation and outlines how the recently announced Automated Vehicles Bill and ongoing work, including international discussions and collaboration with the insurance industry, are already addressing policy issues such as legal liability, safety requirements, and data sharing for self-driving vehicles.
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9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Integrate self-driving vehicle needs into future infrastructure strategy, addressing current siloed preparations.
Self-driving vehicles will need well-maintained roads and signage, nationwide connectivity, and up-to-date digital information about the road network. While some steps have been taken towards this by the Government and public bodies, these preparations are too siloed and divorced from … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, citing provisions in the Automated Vehicles Bill for digitising Traffic Regulation Orders as a step to support self-driving vehicles. It also commits to developing future guidance for road authorities on investing in traffic control systems and notes that work is already underway through the National Highways Digital Roads programme.
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10 Conclusion Accepted
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Archaic self-driving vehicle laws require urgent reform, making government's legislative delay disappointing.
The current laws for self-driving vehicles are archaic and limiting, especially concerning testing and legal liability. We commend the work of the Law Commissions and the Government in devising a new legal framework. That framework has broad support, albeit with … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating it is delighted to bring the Automated Vehicles Bill to the fourth Parliamentary session, as announced in the King's Speech on 7 November 2023, to establish a legal framework for self-driving vehicles.
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11 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Self-driving vehi…
Urgently bring forward comprehensive legislation for a robust self-driving vehicle regulatory framework.
The self-driving vehicle sector is a British success story. We were impressed, unfailingly so, by the energy, creativity, and expertise of all those we met, whether from industry, academia, Government or somewhere in between. We have a competitive advantage, and … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, confirming it will bring the Automated Vehicles Bill to the fourth Parliamentary session, as announced in the King's Speech on 7 November 2023, to establish a comprehensive safety and regulatory framework for self-driving vehicles.
Department for Transport
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Government Response AI assessment · 11 of 6 classified
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 1
Deferred 1
Rejected 1
Total 6 recs + 5 conclusions