Latest news with #AutomatedVehiclesAct
Evening Standard
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- 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
- Automotive
- 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.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Uber's UK Robotaxi Fleet is Ready, But Regulations Hold Keys
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. 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." 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Uber's Self-Driving Cars Hit Road Block
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Uber says it is "ready to go" with its fleet of self-driving cars, but regulations in the UK could prevent them from touching the tarmac for several years. Despite the ridesharing company's aim to have autonomous vehicles deployed in on British roads by 2026, a delay in the UK's lawmaking process on the issue means the industry will not see clarity on the topic until 2027, according to government officials. Newsweek contacted Uber for more information via email. Why It Matters Initially thought to be impossibilities of science fiction, self-driving cars are now entering trial phases around the world, but their introduction brings huge growing pains for lawmakers. The new technology raises ethical questions around driver attention, the responsibility of artificial intelligence, and the safety of the tech in the first place, meaning regulators have a lot of uncharted water to cross before laws can be made governing the new industry. What To Know In the UK, these complications have resulted in transport regulators pushing a deadline for autonomous vehicle guidelines back a year, despite industry leaders saying their cars will be road-ready before then. In 2024, the Department of Transport said that the Automated Vehicles Act would enable self-driving cars to be on the roads by 2026, promising to take the UK's laws to the "threshold of an automotive revolution." But one year and one change in government later, autonomous vehicles are still required to have a human driver behind the wheel at all times, and the deadline for future clarification has been pushed back to 2027. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty This is bad news for Uber, which has a fleet of driverless cars ready to go and is awaiting legislative clarification on how to use them. "We're ready to launch robotaxis in the UK as soon as the regulatory environment is ready for us," Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of mobility at Uber, told the BBC. "The reality is that one accident is too many. That said, with electric vehicles, human drivers... we operate in the real world and stuff happens." Dr. Saber Fallah, a professor of safe AI and autonomy at the University of Surrey, told Newsweek that the delay on the legislation was important for getting the public onboard with what many still see as a risky technology. "The UK's cautious approach in the rollout of self-driving vehicles is not only appropriate but necessary for ensuring public trust and long-term safety," Fallah said. "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 judgement 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. There are also infrastructure gaps, particularly in digital connectivity and scenario testing. "Compared to the US and China, the UK's strategy places greater emphasis on assurance and regulation—this is a strength if paired with innovation in AI transparency and human oversight. Achieving this balance is key to ensuring the public sees AVs not as experimental novelties, but as trusted, competent partners in mobility." What People Are Saying The 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." What Happens Next The UK government has set a deadline for late 2027 to deliver clarification to the industry, meaning it will still be some time before the UK sees widespread self-driving car tests.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The laws around driverless cars in the UK, explained
Uber has said it is ready to launch driverless taxis in the UK. Andrew Macdonald, a vice-president at the company, told the BBC: "We're ready to launch robotaxis in the UK as soon as the regulatory environment is ready for us." Exactly one year ago, Rishi Sunak's government passed the Automated Vehicles Act into law, declaring "self-driving vehicles could be on British roads by 2026". The then Conservative government declared that travel would be "revolutionised" by the £42 billion sector, promising to increase road safety and "unlocking opportunities for those who currently can't drive". Deaths and injuries from drink driving, speeding, tiredness and inattention could, they said, be drastically reduced This week, however, the new Labour government said that the 2026 target would come and go and that it would be another year before fully driverless are approved. But what exactly are the laws on driverless cars - and when could they hit British roads. The Automated Vehicles Act passed under the previous government outlined the legal framework for autonomous vehicles. It requires self-driving vehicles to "achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or higher than, that of careful and competent human drivers" and for road safety in Britain to "be better... than it would otherwise be" as a result of these cars being in use. Human error contributes to nine in 10 road collisions. The transport secretary - now Heidi Alexander - is the person who can authorise self-driving cars for use once they are satisfied safety requirements have been met. Under the law, the person behind the wheel - labelled as the 'user-in-charge' - would not be held responsible for the actions of a vehicle while in self-driving mode. Businesses such as insurers, manufacturers and software developers would be liable if something goes wrong. This week, the Department for Transport told the BBC: "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." Trials of autonomous vehicle technology have been ongoing across the UK, such as by Wayve in London and Oxa in Oxford. But Dr Siddartha Khastgir, head of safe autonomy at Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, told Yahoo News that if the government does approve self-driving cars in 2027, it will be 2028 - at the earliest - before they are actually on the roads. "It's a hard thing to do, to approve an automated driving system. There is a lot of scientific evidence needed to create the policy, which takes time. That's why I think the government is right to ask for more time, because we do not want to approve unsafe systems. "It's a three-step process: regulation being published, [manufacturers] understanding the regulations and then seeking approval, and then actually having products on the road. "I don't see that happening any time before 2028." Paul Newman, founder of Oxa, an autonomous vehicle software developer, and professor of information engineering at the University of Oxford, also told BBC Radio 4's Today programme self-driving cars will have to be "rock solid" in terms of safety before they are rolled out. "The UK is leading in regulation and legislation around autonomous vehicles being allowed on our roads. "I don't think anyone's in a rush to do something until we can be sure, and have assurance and insurance, and absolutely rock solid safety arguments, to earn that trust around the use of AI in... changing the way people and goods move." YouGov polling last year suggested 37% of Britons would feel "very unsafe" in a driverless car. I went for a ride in a self-driving taxi to see Britain's future (The Telegraph) LA tech entrepreneur nearly misses flight after getting trapped in robotaxi (The Guardian)
