The government has today (20 April 2022) confirmed planned
changes to The Highway Code, responding to a public consultation,
continuing to pave the way for safer, more efficient travel.
The changes to the code will help ensure the first wave of
technology will be used safely, explaining clearly that while
travelling in self-driving mode, motorists must be ready to
resume control in a timely way if they are prompted to – such as
when they approach motorway exits.
The plans also include a change to current regulation, allowing
drivers to view content that is not related to driving on
built-in display screens, while the self-driving vehicle is in
control. It will, however, still be illegal to use mobile phones
in self-driving mode, given the greater risk they pose in
distracting drivers as shown in research.
With self-driving technology rapidly developing across the globe,
Britain’s first vehicles approved for self-driving could be ready
for use later this year. Vehicles will undergo rigorous testing
and only be approved as self-driving when they have met stringent
standards.
The government is continuing to develop a full legal framework
for self-driving vehicles to enable the safer and greener
movement of people and goods in the UK. The Department for
Transport will also work with industry, regulators and safety
organisations to ensure drivers can access information, including
online, to help them use the vehicles safely.
Transport Minister said:
This is a major milestone in our safe introduction of
self-driving vehicles, which will revolutionise the way we
travel, making our future journeys greener, safer and more
reliable.
This exciting technology is developing at pace right here in
Great Britain and we’re ensuring we have strong foundations in
place for drivers when it takes to our roads.
In doing so, we can help improve travel for all while boosting
economic growth across the nation and securing Britain’s place as
a global science superpower.
The development of self-driving vehicles could create around
38,000 new, high-skilled jobs within Britain’s industry that
would be worth £41.7 billion by 2035.
The measures confirmed today follow a public consultation
launched by the government, which found the majority of
respondents were broadly supportive of the proposed changes to
The Highway Code to clarify drivers’ responsibilities in
self-driving vehicles.
The introduction of the technology is likely to begin with
vehicles travelling at slow speeds on motorways, such as in
congested traffic.
Following a landmark call for evidence, the government announced
in April last year that vehicles fitted with
automated lane keeping system (ALKS) technology could be
the first example of self-driving technology. Existing
technology available on the market is ‘assistive’, meaning
drivers must currently always remain in control and responsible.
Designed for use on a motorway in slow traffic, ALKS enables a
vehicle to drive itself in a single lane, up to
37 mph, while
maintaining the ability to return control easily and safely to
the driver when required.
Meanwhile, the government expects to have a full regulatory
framework in place to support the widespread deployment of the
technology by 2025, helping to make the movement of people and
goods safer, greener and more efficient.
The technology could improve road safety across Britain by
reducing human error, which is a contributory factor in 88% of
all recorded road collisions.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said:
The Highway Code has been updated a number of times in recent
years to reflect the rapidly changing transport world we live in
and these latest additions will help us all understand what we
must and must not do as we move forward to an environment where
cars drive themselves.
The final part of the jigsaw is to ensure these amendments are
widely communicated to, and understood by, vehicle owners.
Vehicle manufacturers and sellers will have a vital role to play
in ensuring their customers fully appreciate the capabilities of
the cars they buy and the rules that govern them.
Self-driving technology in cars, buses and delivery vehicles
could spark the beginning of the end of urban congestion, with
traffic lights and vehicles speaking to each other to keep
traffic flowing, reducing emissions and improving air quality in
our towns and cities.
The technology could also improve access to transport for people
with mobility issues and lead to more reliable public transport
services, helping to level-up access to transport in historically
disconnected and rural areas.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
Amending The Highway Code to reflect the pace of technological
change will help clarify what motorists can and can’t do when a
self-driving feature is engaged, so promoting its safe use.
The technology could be available in the UK later this year and,
with the right regulations in place, consumers are set to benefit
from safer, more efficient journeys while the UK will strengthen
its position as a global leader in the deployment of self-driving
technology.
