When can we expect to see driverless taxis in London?
Despite the roadworks, a destination does appear to be pre-programmed: self-driving vehicles are coming to UK roads— and were meant to be arriving as early as next year, following the May 2024 passing of the Automated Vehicles Act. That timeline has now slipped to 2027, the Department of Transport recently confirmed, although it says it's 'working quickly' to implement legislation.
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Evening Standard
a day ago
- Evening Standard
When can we expect to see driverless taxis in London?
Despite the roadworks, a destination does appear to be pre-programmed: self-driving vehicles are coming to UK roads— and were meant to be arriving as early as next year, following the May 2024 passing of the Automated Vehicles Act. That timeline has now slipped to 2027, the Department of Transport recently confirmed, although it says it's 'working quickly' to implement legislation.
Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Auto Blog
Uber's UK Robotaxi Fleet is Ready, But Regulations Hold Keys
Uber U.K.'s self-driving fleet pushed back a year as lawmakers work on regulatory frameworks Uber's CEO has boldly declared that the company is ready to launch its U.K. self-driving fleet, but regulatory hurdles have caused the rideshare service to pump its brakes for now. In 2024, the U.K.'s Department of Transport said that the Automated Vehicles Act would allow autonomous cars to be on roads by 2026. However, current regulations require self-driving vehicles to have a human behind the wheel, and the deadline for details on how autonomous fleets can deploy has been pushed to 2027, Newsweek reports. 0:06 / 0:09 Walmart is selling a 'heavy duty' $89 step ladder for $48, and shoppers say it's 'sturdy and secure' Walmart is selling a 'heavy duty' $89 step ladder for $48, and shoppers say it's 'sturdy and secure' Watch More Last June's general election in the U.K. led to a new government reviewing legislative frameworks on self-driving cars, influencing the change in launch timing. Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of mobility at Uber, told the BBC: 'We're ready to launch robotaxis in the UK as soon as the regulatory environment is ready for us.' Uber currently offers autonomous rideshare services with companies like Waymo in the U.S. — Source: Getty Macdonald added that Uber is working with 18 automated vehicle tech companies, including Wayve, which is helping launch Nissan's next-generation ProPILOT driver-assist system. In the U.S., Uber runs a self-driving fleet with Waymo, generally considered the world's leading autonomous rideshare service, with plans to deploy thousands of electric ID. Buzz self-driving vans starting next year in Los Angeles. The U.K.'s Department of Transportation is working to release autonomous vehicle legislation in the second half of 2027 while exploring short-term trials and pilot programs for the tech, according to the BBC. While Macdonald noted that Uber is ready to launch its robotaxis in the U.K., he emphasized the brand's commitment to safety by saying, 'One accident is too many.' Waymo reported in late April that its autonomous fleet was involved in 81% fewer injury-causing crashes compared to a human benchmark over tens of millions of miles. Autonomy expert highlights the hurdles governments and companies like Uber face with self-driving tech Dr. Saber Fallah, a professor of safe artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy at the University of Surrey, told Newsweek that the U.K.'s decision to delay regulatory frameworks for self-driving vehicles will help the public get on board with the tech that many still view as risky. 'While the maturity of certain technologies, such as those proposed by Uber, is advancing rapidly, readiness must be judged not just on how well the technology performs in ideal conditions, but also on how consistently and reliably it makes decisions in complex real-world environments. The fundamental challenge lies in bridging the gap between statistical learning and human-level reasoning. Current autonomous vehicle systems often lack the capacity to explain their decisions, adapt meaningfully to unique scenarios, or respond with the nuanced judgment that human drivers routinely demonstrate. True readiness requires systems that offer traceable reasoning, safety assurance, and hybrid validation under diverse conditions. Legally and ethically, certifying decision-making processes that remain unclear to regulators poses significant risks,' Fallah explained. Fallah also cited infrastructure gaps, primarily in digital connectivity and scenario testing, as hindering the progress of autonomous cars. In other words, self-driving vehicles can still experience difficulty communicating with each other and the road infrastructure, and there are limited ways to test all the real-world scenarios the tech might face. Uber headquarters, California — Source: Getty Final thoughts While Fallah raises several valid points on the challenges of commercializing autonomous fleets, he also offers insight into how tech companies and government regulators can overcome these obstacles. Fallah views the key ingredients to self-driving cars' success as emphasizing public assurance, regulation, AI transparency, and human oversight. This industry expert described the U.S. and China as placing less emphasis on assurance and regulation, but China has demonstrated a recent commitment to tighter regulations with actions like banning words like 'smart' and 'autonomous' from vehicle ads.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Daily Record
Rules on 'blinding' LED headlights could change within weeks
The government is looking into these type of headlights which 91 percent of people say 'dazzle' them. Motorists who struggle with the glare from LED headlights could see rules around them change in a matter of weeks. The Department of Transport is currently investigating the headlamps amid growing concerns of drivers being temporarily 'blinded' on the roads. And the government is set to publish its findings into LED headlights and road safety this summer meaning a change to rules surrounding the 'dazzling' headlights could be just around the corner. This has since been confirmed by an update on the UK Parliament website. It read: "In response to a petition launched during the 2019–24 parliament which attracted 14,107 signatures, the previous Conservative government said it intended to commission independent research into headlights dazzling oncoming drivers. The Labour government subsequently commissioned research in October 2024 and a report is expected in summer 2025." Future roads minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that research was in progress and is "due to deliver in summer 2025". The independent research comes as a survey conducted at the end of 2023 found that around 90 percent of drivers in the UK have complained that modern headlights are 'too bright'. This study will look at the factors affecting headlight glare and determine if something can be done to reduce the impact of drivers being blinded, reports The Express. Ms Greenwood said: "All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety on a broad range of roads and environments." However, AA president Edmund King said he believes the piercing headlights are a major contributing factor in collisions on the roads and a quarter of motorists say they avoid driving at nigh t because of them. The issue is also on the radar of the United Nations international expert group on vehicle lighting, with additional measures expected to be introduced by September 2027. A DFT spokesperson explained that this independent research would contribute significantly to grasping the primary reasons behind driver glare and formulating "appropriate mitigations". Research by the RAC in December 2023 found that 85 percent of drivers believe the problem of bright headlights is 'getting worse'. The survey of 2,000 drivers found 89 percent think at least some headlights on cars on the road today are 'too bright', of which 28 percent think 'most are'. Of the motorists who complain about the brightness of car headlights, 91 percent said they get 'dazzled' when driving, with 74 percent saying this happens 'regularly'. And 64 percent believe some headlights are so bright they risk causing accidents. In fact, five percent of these drivers revealed they have nearly been involved in a collision themselves. Seven percent said they find headlight glare so bad that they avoid driving at night altogether, which rises to 14 percent for drivers aged 65 and over. The Department for Transport records how many times each year a police officer has noted 'dazzling headlights' as a factor contributing to an accident. Over a decade, the data shows the highest number of collisions in 2013 at 369, and the lowest in 2020 at 196 - which was influenced by the Covid lockdowns. LED (light emitting diode) headlights are significantly brighter than traditional halogen bulbs. This is worsened if headlights are not properly aligned and the increasing popularity of taller vehicles like SUVs, which can direct the light beam more directly into the eyes of drivers in lower cars.
