A Commission of the British Parliament has launched an investigation aimed at establishing what is needed for self-driving cars to become a common sight on public roads.
On June 27, the House of Commons’ Transport Selection Committee analyzed the progress of research and testing of self-driving cars in the UK and abroad, and their potential for use in private cars, public transport, and commercial driving. Announced. ..
The probe assesses safety issues and awareness of safety, taking into account relationships with other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and users of traditional vehicles.
Changes required to regulate the legal status of the vehicle, insurance, licensing process, etc. will also be investigated.
Fully self-driving cars are not yet legally permitted in the UK, but self-driving features are being developed by automakers.
Regulatory challenges
According to the UK government, an updated version of the Highway Code, a rulebook for road users in the UK, will allow drivers of self-driving cars to watch TV on the built-in screen, but will continue to ban the use of mobile phones. increase.
The code also states that the person using the fully autonomous vehicle is not responsible for the collision and the insurance company is responsible for the claim. However, the driver must be ready to regain control when requested by the vehicle.
Transport Minister Trudy Harrison, who announced the change in April, said the update was “a major milestone in the safe introduction of self-driving cars” and “revolutionized the way we travel and future travel. It’s more environmentally friendly, safer, and more reliable. “
Last year, the UK became the first country to announce restrictions on the use of low-speed self-driving cars on highways, and the Ministry of Transport announced that it would enable hands-free driving on vehicles equipped with lane keeping technology. Did. Features found in today’s new cars, that is, on busy highways.
A full regulatory framework for self-driving cars will be implemented by 2025.
Last week, the England and Wales Law Commission began seeking views on remote driving regulations, including controlling the vehicle by someone who could be miles away.
“The pressing challenge for regulators is to devise a road resistance test system that ensures that self-driving technicians can handle the various situations they may encounter on the road,” said Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation. “.
“Human drivers need to pass both theory and field tests. It seems they need the equivalent of the car itself,” he said.
Owen Evans, Lily Zhou, and PA Media contributed to this report.
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