UK set to approve driverless cars by exact year as approval delayed
Government and industry leaders remain optimistic about the benefits of autonomous vehicles despite the recent pushback as the sector is projected to be worth £42 billion
The UK government has officially delayed the approval and rollout of fully driverless cars, pushing the expected date to the second half of 2027, marking a significant shift from previous administration's targets, which said autonomous vehicles were "set to be on roads by 2026'.
The Automated Vehicles (AV) Act, which became law in May 2024, was initially hailed as a major step forward for the UK's self-driving car ambitions, establishing a legal framework stating that when a vehicle is in self-driving mode, the manufacturer — not the human occupant — is liable for its behaviour, with the intention of paving the way for the introduction of autonomous vehicles as early as 2026.
Several factors have contributed to the government's decision to push back the approval date, with safety concerns playing a major role. Recent incidents involving robotaxis in other countries — such as the suspension of General Motors' Cruise service at the end of last year in San Francisco following safety issues — have intensified caution. The government is prioritising a 'safety-led' approach to avoid similar problems in the UK.
Regulatory complexity is another challenge. While the AV Act established the legal foundation, secondary legislation is still required to detail operational standards, insurance requirements and accident liability. Without these, fully driverless cars cannot be legally deployed.
Public apprehension remains high, with a 2024 YouGov poll revealing 37% of Britons would feel 'very unsafe' in a driverless car, so building trust is seen as essential.
There is also a gap between industry readiness and regulation, with companies including Uber and UK-based Wayve claiming they are technologically ready to deploy driverless taxis immediately. However, without the necessary regulatory approvals, these services cannot launch.
Senior Vice President of Mobility at Uber, Andrew Macdonald, told the BBC: "We're ready to launch robotaxis in the UK as soon as the regulatory environment is ready for us.'
In relation to safety issues, he added: "The reality is that one accident is too many. That said, with EV, human drivers… we operate in the real world and stuff happens."
As of May 2025, only advanced driver-assistance features such as lane assist and traffic jam autopilot are permitted, but a human driver must be ready to take control at all times. Several firms, including Uber, are actively testing more advanced systems and lobbying for faster regulatory progress.
Despite the delay, the government and industry leaders remain optimistic about the economic and safety benefits of autonomous vehicles. The sector is projected to be worth £42 billion and create 38,000 jobs by 2035.
However, industry groups including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Zenzic and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) have warned that further delays could undermine the UK's competitive position and risk missing out on global leadership in self-driving technology.
The UK Department for Transport said in a statement: "We are working quickly and will implement self-driving vehicle legislation in the second half of 2027. We are also exploring options for short-term trials and pilots to create the right conditions for a thriving self-driving sector.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
35 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Uber to launch self-driving taxis in London next year
The ride-hailing app company will operate services in partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Wayve. This has been enabled by the Government's decision to bring forward trials of self-driving commercial taxis and 'bus-like services' in England to next spring. They were previously expected to begin when the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027. Uber's services will initially have a human in the driver's seat who can take over control of the vehicle in an emergency, but the trials will transition to being fully driverless. The company's existing trials of self-driving taxis are generally in US locations which have much simpler road layouts than London. Uber chief operating officer Andrew Macdonald described the English capital's roads as 'one of the world's busiest and most complex urban environments'. He added: 'Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality.' Wayve co-founder Alex Kendall said the trial is 'a defining moment for UK autonomy' and 'brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond'. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'The future of transport is arriving. 'Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology. 'With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry and drive innovation.' The sale and use of self-driving private cars will only be permitted when the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law. This legislation will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as 'competent and careful human drivers', the DfT said. It is hoped the vehicles will reduce road deaths and injuries as their systems will be designed to have faster reaction times than humans, and will not become distracted or tired. The development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42 billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT. The UK's first autonomous bus service was cancelled in February because of a lack of passengers. Stagecoach began operating self-driving buses on a 14-mile route between Fife and Edinburgh via the Forth Road Bridge in May 2023. The vehicles still required two members of staff on board, consisting of a safety driver who could take control of the vehicle and a 'captain' to sell tickets and provide customer service.
Leader Live
36 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Uber to launch self-driving taxis in London next year
The ride-hailing app company will operate services in partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Wayve. This has been enabled by the Government's decision to bring forward trials of self-driving commercial taxis and 'bus-like services' in England to next spring. They were previously expected to begin when the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027. Uber's services will initially have a human in the driver's seat who can take over control of the vehicle in an emergency, but the trials will transition to being fully driverless. The company's existing trials of self-driving taxis are generally in US locations which have much simpler road layouts than London. Uber chief operating officer Andrew Macdonald described the English capital's roads as 'one of the world's busiest and most complex urban environments'. He added: 'Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality.' Wayve co-founder Alex Kendall said the trial is 'a defining moment for UK autonomy' and 'brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond'. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'The future of transport is arriving. 'Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology. 'With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry and drive innovation.' The sale and use of self-driving private cars will only be permitted when the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law. This legislation will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as 'competent and careful human drivers', the DfT said. It is hoped the vehicles will reduce road deaths and injuries as their systems will be designed to have faster reaction times than humans, and will not become distracted or tired. The development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42 billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT. The UK's first autonomous bus service was cancelled in February because of a lack of passengers. Stagecoach began operating self-driving buses on a 14-mile route between Fife and Edinburgh via the Forth Road Bridge in May 2023. The vehicles still required two members of staff on board, consisting of a safety driver who could take control of the vehicle and a 'captain' to sell tickets and provide customer service.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Uber to launch self-driving taxis in London next year
The ride-hailing app company will operate services in partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Wayve. This has been enabled by the Government's decision to bring forward trials of self-driving commercial taxis and 'bus-like services' in England to next spring. They were previously expected to begin when the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027. Uber's services will initially have a human in the driver's seat who can take over control of the vehicle in an emergency, but the trials will transition to being fully driverless. The company's existing trials of self-driving taxis are generally in US locations which have much simpler road layouts than London. Uber chief operating officer Andrew Macdonald described the English capital's roads as 'one of the world's busiest and most complex urban environments'. He added: 'Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality.' Wayve co-founder Alex Kendall said the trial is 'a defining moment for UK autonomy' and 'brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond'. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'The future of transport is arriving. 'Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology. 'With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry and drive innovation.' The sale and use of self-driving private cars will only be permitted when the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law. This legislation will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as 'competent and careful human drivers', the DfT said. It is hoped the vehicles will reduce road deaths and injuries as their systems will be designed to have faster reaction times than humans, and will not become distracted or tired. The development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42 billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT. The UK's first autonomous bus service was cancelled in February because of a lack of passengers. Stagecoach began operating self-driving buses on a 14-mile route between Fife and Edinburgh via the Forth Road Bridge in May 2023. The vehicles still required two members of staff on board, consisting of a safety driver who could take control of the vehicle and a 'captain' to sell tickets and provide customer service.
