
Driverless cars won't get UK green light until 2027
Autonomous or self-driving cars have been on the roads of the UK for several years as part of various technical trials, but always with a safety driver sitting behind the wheel ready to take command in an emergency. Now it has been revealed that the first 'unmanned' driverless cars won't appear until the second half of 2027 at the earliest - a year later than the date promised by the last government. Advertisement - Article continues below
It was this time last year when the previous government's Automated Vehicles Act became law, with ministers then stating ambitions for self-driving cars to be operating on UK roads without human 'safety drivers' as soon as 2026. However, the Department for Transport is now winding back expectations on the timing, while remaining strongly committed to the technology.
"We are working quickly and will implement self-driving vehicle legislation in the second half of 2027", the DfT said in a statement made to the BBC, adding that the department was also exploring options 'for short-term trials and pilots to create the right conditions for a thriving self-driving sector".
The Automated Vehicles Act allowing such trials came into force in 2024 followed a report by Parliament's Transport Select Committee a year earlier that stated the development of driverless cars could generate a host of undesirable consequences, including worsening congestion, and new dangers for 'less skilled' human drivers.
The legislation also took into account a review by the Law Commission which recommended that 'users' of driverless cars should not be held responsible for accidents or injuries caused when their vehicle is in self-driving mode. Instead, the responsibility should lie entirely with the vehicle manufacturer or operator.
Public perceptions around driverless cars have been coloured by the experiences in markets such as the US, where high-profile accidents - sometimes fatal - have resulted from insufficiently-developed tech being trialled on public roads.
Perhaps that's why a YouGov poll last year indicated that 37 per cent of UK residents say the idea of travelling in a driverless car makes them feel 'very unsafe'.
Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter...
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
9 minutes ago
- Reuters
JPMorgan lifts yuan forecast on easing tariff risks, de-dollarisation trend
LONDON, June 11 (Reuters) - JPMorgan lifted its end-of-year forecast for China's onshore yuan spot price on Wednesday, citing moderating risks around the U.S. trade war and a broader global theme of so-called de-dollarisation. The U.S. investment bank said it was revising its dollar/yuan target to 7.15 yuan per dollar from 7.30, adding that it also expected a "gentle downtrend" to 7.10 by the middle of next year. The dollar was steady against the yuan at 7.1875 in European trading after U.S. and Chinese negotiators said they had agreed on a framework to get their countries' trade truce back on track following two days of talks in London.


The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Twix adverts banned for condoning unsafe driving
Advertisements for chocolate bar Twix have been banned for condoning unsafe driving. The TV and similar video-on-demand ads showed a man in a car chase which resulted in his vehicle and an identical, caramel-coloured car sandwiched on top of each other, like a Twix. Five viewers complained the ads encouraged dangerous driving and were irresponsible. Mars-Wrigley, which owns the Twix brand, told the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) the ad had a 'cinematic presentation' and was set in a 'world that was absurd, fantastical and removed from reality'. It said Twix is known for its playful and absurd tone, and the humour in the ad reflected this. However, the ASA said: 'We considered the emphasis on a chase, and the speed inherent to that, and the driving manoeuvres featured would be dangerous and irresponsible if emulated in real life on a public highway. 'Because we considered the driving depicted in the ads condoned unsafe driving that appeared likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code, we concluded the ads were irresponsible.' The ASA ruled the ads must not appear again in their current form, adding: 'We told Mars-Wrigley not to condone or encourage irresponsible driving that was likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code in their ads.'


The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
Wetherspoons is launching THREE new meal deals in days at hundreds of pubs with prices starting from £3
WETHERSPOONS is launching three new meal deals in days at hundreds of pubs and prices start from £3. The giant pub chain is shaking up its Club deals from June 23, offering customers a range of discounted food and drink. 1 It will launch a new small plates deal on Mondays with punters able to get three items for £10 at 610 pubs - around £3 per plate. The same deal will cost £12 at 159 other pubs. Customers can choose from 20 small-plated dishes, including 10 spicy chicken wings, halloumi-style fries and an 8" Margherita pizza. On Tuesdays, a new beer and burger deal is launching across 604 pubs. Customers can get a burger with soft drink for £8.46 or burger with alcoholic drink for £9.99. Burgers included in the deal are The Big Smoke, Buffalo and Cheese Meltdown, with all served with chips and six onion rings. A new Wednesday Pizza Club is also being unveiled by Spoons from June 23, with a range of 11" pizzas available. Punters can get a pizza with soft or alcoholic drink for £6.96 and £8.49, respectively. Wetherspoons said the new Pizza Club will be available across 520 pubs. Meanwhile, the pub chain is also shaking up its Ale Wednesday Club deal meaning customers can now get pints from £1.49 from Monday to Wednesday across 651 pubs. The UK's 5 most beautiful Wetherspoons pubs The existing Thursday Curry Club and Afternoon Deal promo, which runs Monday to Friday from 2pm to 5pm, will also still be available to customers. We have asked Wetherspoons if its existing Tuesday Steak Club and Fish Friday deals are also staying and will update this story when we have heard back. Tim Martin, Wetherspoon's founder and chairman, said: 'We believe that customers will welcome the pubs' new and existing value-for-money club deals." Bear in mind, the prices listed above might not be what you pay in your local Spoons as they can vary from branch to branch. You can find your nearest branch via the free-to-download app or via OTHER SPOONS NEWS Spoons is bringing back The Brunch Burger for the Father's Day weekend, from Friday to Sunday. It returned two years ago after a ten-year hiatus and was a fan favourite at the time with punters calling it "legendary". Last month, Spoons also closed a beloved pub in Coventry - The Spon Gate. Elsewhere, Spoons also launched a £2.99 breakfast deal in February, with customers able to get a breakfast muffin or small breakfast with soft or hot drink. There are also veggie options available, which are served between 8am and midday. The Sun also exclusively revealed in January Spoons had upped the price of a host of popular drinks and menu items across its pubs. The chain bumped up prices on drinks by 15p while meal deals were increased by 30p. The price rises saw the cost of a Guinness at the London and South Western branch in south west London go from £4.66 to £4.81. Meanwhile, the price of a Strongbow increased from £3.24 to £3.39. .