Self-driving vehicles regulation

RPC opinion: automated passenger services permitting scheme options

Why linked: Companion research entry for the RPC opinion on the APS permitting scheme.

Regulatory Policy Committee opinion of the options assessment for the scheme submitted by the Department for Transport.

Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles — CCAV research: Public understanding of vehicle automation terms (31 March 2026)

Public understanding of vehicle automation terms — 31 March 2026 · Research and analysis. Understanding human factors in advanced driver assistance systems: an evidence review — 31 March 2026 · Research and analysis.

Automated vehicles — POST Parliament briefing

Automated vehicles (AVs), also referred to as autonomous, driverless, or self-driving vehicles, refers to vehicles using a combination of sensors, computation, and AI to perform the driving task for a sustained period during a trip.

Connected and autonomous vehicles

Type: Commons Debate Pack (CDP-2025-0201) A debate on connected and automated vehicles has been scheduled for Wednesday 28 October 2025 in Westminster Hall, from 2:30pm to 4pm. It will be opened by Sarah Coombes MP.

Automated vehicles and sanctions systems

Why linked: DfT-commissioned research on automated vehicles and sanctions systems to inform sanctions design under the AV Act 2024.

Identifies how regulators in different sectors apply sanctions, and what can be learnt to inform the use of sanctions under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024.

Performing tasks in automated passenger services during emergencies

Why linked: DfT research on emergency responses by people with protected characteristics in APS, directly relevant to APS safety and accessibility provisions in the permitting scheme.

A study that explores how people with protected characteristics may respond to emergencies in automated passenger services.

Driver roles and inclusivity: automated passenger services

Why linked: DfT research on driver roles and inclusivity in automated passenger services, directly informing the APS permitting scheme design and accessibility considerations.

Explores non-driving-related roles carried out by drivers and identifies solutions that could be used for future automated passenger services.

Self-driving vehicles: regaining situational awareness

Why linked: DfT/CCAV research on regaining situational awareness in AVs — evidence base for transition demands under s.7.

Explores how users of self-driving vehicles respond to a request to resume manual driving.

Automated vehicles

Why linked: POSTbrief PB-0062 on automated vehicles — parliamentary research baseline.

Type: POSTbrief (POST-PB-0062) This POSTbrief explains what automated vehicles are and how they work. It outlines developments in the UK, benefits and concerns and policy considerations.

Automated Vehicles Bill [HL] 2023-24: Progress of the Bill

Type: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-10011) A Bill to create a legal framework for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles in Great Britain will have its remaining stages on 1 May 2024.

Automated Vehicles Bill [HL] 2023-24

Type: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-9973) A Bill to create a legal framework for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles in Great Britain will have its second reading on 5 March 2024.

9th Report - Automated Vehicles Bill [HL]: Government Response

Automated Vehicles Bill: RPC Opinion (Green-rated)

Why linked: RPC green-rated opinion on DfT's AV Bill IA — independent regulatory scrutiny of the primary Act.

Regulatory Policy Committee opinion on DfT's Automated Vehicles Bill IA

6th report - Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill; Automated Vehicles Bill [HL]: Government Response

3rd Report - National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Bill Automated Vehicles Bill [HL] Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill Arbitration Bill [HL] and 14 Private Members’ Bills

Why linked: Lords scrutiny report covering the AV Bill alongside other measures.

Lords scrutiny report covering the AV Bill alongside other measures.

First Special Report - Self-driving vehicles: Government response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2022–23

Automated Vehicles Bill [HL]: HL Bill 1 of 2023–24

Why linked: Lords Library briefing LLN-2023-0045 on the AV Bill — the parliamentary briefing baseline for the Act.

Type: Lords Library Note (LLN-2023-0045) The Automated Vehicles Bill would put into place measures announced in the 2023 King’s Speech to set up a legal framework to enable self-driving cars in the UK. It would establish a regulatory regime for …

Automated Vehicles Bill [HL]: HL Bill 1 of 2023–24

Why linked: Lords Library Note on the Automated Vehicles Bill HL 2023-24, providing background analysis of the legislation that became the AV Act 2024.

Type: Lords Library Note (LLN-2023-0045) The Automated Vehicles Bill would put into place measures announced in the 2023 King’s Speech to set up a legal framework to enable self-driving cars in the UK. It would establish a regulatory regime for …

Finding the way forward: Location data to enable connected and automated mobility

In response to: Finding the way forward: Location data to enable connected and automated mobility

Seventh Report - Self-driving vehicles

Self-driving vehicles: public perceptions and effective communication

Why linked: Self-driving vehicles public perceptions and effective communication research — directly informs Part 4 marketing-term regime.

How people view self-driving vehicles and how to effectively communicate safety information about them.

Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 regulatory report 2022

In response to: Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 regulatory report 2022

Automated vehicles: testing proposed wording used in The Highway Code

Why linked: Cognitive testing research on Highway Code AV wording — public-understanding evidence relevant to s.2 principles.

Outlines the findings of cognitive testing research into whether the revised Highway Code wording about automated vehicles was clearly understood by drivers.

Activities drivers can safely perform in conditionally automated vehicles, including Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS)

Why linked: Research on activities drivers can safely perform in conditionally automated vehicles — direct evidence for s.47 user-in-charge regime.

Activities other than driving that drivers can safely perform when using a conditionally automated vehicle, including vehicles fitted with ALKS.

Connected and Automated Vehicles: market forecast 2020

Why linked: Connected and Automated Vehicles market forecast — evidence basis for the regime's economic case.

Study analysing the potential future Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) market for the United Kingdom.

Public attitudes towards self-driving vehicles

Why linked: Public attitudes research on AVs — foundational evidence for s.2 safety principles and pilot guidance.

Research exploring people’s attitudes towards self-driving vehicles.

Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018

Why linked: Commons Library briefing on the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 — directly relevant as the predecessor liability statute that continues in force alongside the 2024 Act.

Type: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-8118) This paper explains the policy background to and contents and purpose of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018.