Self-driving vehicles regulation

Letter from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme, dated 23 April 2026

Direction: to_committee

Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to implementing the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act 2024, dated 4 December 2025

Direction: to_committee

Letter from the Minister of State, Department for Transport relating to the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act 2024, dated 21 July 2025

Direction: to_committee

Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary relating to the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act 2024, dated 11 June 2025

Direction: to_committee

However, the Department also set out that autonomous vehicle technology would need to be capable of safely operating using existing highway infrastructure and so does not expect to make any immediate changes to road maintenance practices. The Department told us that government 75 Qq 21, 27, 93; C&AG’s Report, Figure 12 76 Q 94 77 Qq 84, 88 78 Qq 86 - 89; Written evidence, submitted by the Department for Transport dated 5 December 2024, ‘Local roads – Autonomous Vehicles’ 19 expects to set out...

Why linked: Written evidence on DfT's approach to AV technology and existing highway infrastructure, directly relevant to the authorisation and safety framework under the AV Act.

However, the Department also set out that autonomous vehicle technology would need to be capable of safely operating using existing highway infrastructure and so does not expect to make any immediate changes to road maintenance practices. The Department told us …

Letter from the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Transport relating to the Local road inquiry follow up on Autonomous vehicles, 05 December 2024

Why linked: Letter from the DfT Permanent Secretary on autonomous vehicles follow-up to the local roads inquiry — committee correspondence on the AV regime.

Direction: to_committee

Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Transport, relating to the Automated Vehicles Bill and micro-mobility, dated 14 November 2023

Direction: unknown

Greater automation will reduce time spent driving. Over time drivers may become less practised and therefore less skilled. Conversely, the demands on drivers will grow as they will be called upon to retake control of vehicles in challenging circumstances with little notice. The Government should set out a strategy for the future of human driving in a world of self-driving vehicles. This should include possible changes to driving tests and a plan to ensure that all drivers fully understand sel...

Why linked: Transport Committee position on driver-skill atrophy and growing UIC demands — engages s.7 transition demands.

Greater automation will reduce time spent driving. Over time drivers may become less practised and therefore less skilled. Conversely, the demands on drivers will grow as they will be called upon to retake control of vehicles in challenging circumstances with …

There is a broad range of possible uses for self-driving vehicles, and we believe they have the potential to improve transport connectivity with significant safety, productivity, and mobility benefits. However, over the last decade, progress in this technology has failed to meet many of its promoters’ predictions, and this has bred understandable cynicism.

Why linked: Transport Committee finding on AV potential and use cases — relevant context for APS permitting scope.

There is a broad range of possible uses for self-driving vehicles, and we believe they have the potential to improve transport connectivity with significant safety, productivity, and mobility benefits. However, over the last decade, progress in this technology has failed …

While it is widely assumed that self-driving vehicles will prove safer than human drivers, this is not a given. Optimistic predictions are often based on widespread self- driving vehicle usage that is decades away, or assertions about human error that ignore other risks. Safety must remain the Government’s overriding priority as self-driving vehicles encounter real-world complexity. Given this, we question the Government’s proposed ambition that self-driving vehicles must be as safe as a comp...

Why linked: Transport Committee position that AV safety advantages are not given — directly informs authorisation threshold.

While it is widely assumed that self-driving vehicles will prove safer than human drivers, this is not a given. Optimistic predictions are often based on widespread self- driving vehicle usage that is decades away, or assertions about human error that …

Hopefully expectations of self-driving vehicle technology have become more realistic. Self-driving vehicles that can go anywhere at any time remain purely hypothetical, but in more circumscribed forms they can become reality. Nobody is likely to be taking a self-driving vehicle the whole way from Land’s End to John o’ Groats anytime soon, if ever, but self-driving bus services may become commonplace sooner rather than later.

Why linked: Transport Committee realism on AV technology limits — frames the s.2 Statement of Safety Principles debate.

Hopefully expectations of self-driving vehicle technology have become more realistic. Self-driving vehicles that can go anywhere at any time remain purely hypothetical, but in more circumscribed forms they can become reality. Nobody is likely to be taking a self-driving vehicle …

The introduction of self-driving vehicles to the UK’s roads will affect all road users. We believe that this should not impose new responsibilities on other road users and pedestrians, limit their access to, or use of, public infrastructure or, crucially, make them less safe. (Paragraph 64) 36 Self-driving vehicles What other risks do self-driving vehicles pose?

Why linked: Transport Committee finding that AVs should not impose new responsibilities on other road users — engages Part 2 user-in-charge / Highway Code interface.

The introduction of self-driving vehicles to the UK’s roads will affect all road users. We believe that this should not impose new responsibilities on other road users and pedestrians, limit their access to, or use of, public infrastructure or, crucially, …

Connected vehicles pose new dangers, which the law must evolve to meet. A safety- led culture will require wide access to data, and this must be a higher priority than commercial confidentiality. Ensuring self-driving vehicles are roadworthy will be more complicated than for conventional vehicles, not least because there is more that can go wrong. Legal liability also becomes more complex as it is shared between owner and operator. The Government explained broadly how its new regulatory regim...

Why linked: Transport Committee position on connected-vehicle data access and safety-led culture — directly engages the regime's information-sharing architecture.

Connected vehicles pose new dangers, which the law must evolve to meet. A safety- led culture will require wide access to data, and this must be a higher priority than commercial confidentiality. Ensuring self-driving vehicles are roadworthy will be more …

Self-driving vehicles will need well-maintained roads and signage, nationwide connectivity, and up-to-date digital information about the road network. While some steps have been taken towards this by the Government and public bodies, these preparations are too siloed and divorced from broader planning. If the Government is serious about self-driving vehicles, it should ensure meeting their needs is an integral part of future infrastructure strategy. (Paragraph 89) What legal changes are needed?

Why linked: Transport Committee point on AV infrastructure dependencies — relevant to s.93 traffic-regulation information regime.

Self-driving vehicles will need well-maintained roads and signage, nationwide connectivity, and up-to-date digital information about the road network. While some steps have been taken towards this by the Government and public bodies, these preparations are too siloed and divorced from …

The Government has put good structures in place, but it is not enough just to participate in or facilitate conversations about unresolved policy issues, including access to data, verifying roadworthiness, legal liability and insurance implications. If self-driving vehicles are to be deployed on our roads by 2025, safely and successfully, the Government must take the lead to resolve these issues. (Paragraph 80) What infrastructure will be needed?

Why linked: Transport Committee finding on unresolved policy issues including data access and roadworthiness — maps to ss.14–23 information powers.

The Government has put good structures in place, but it is not enough just to participate in or facilitate conversations about unresolved policy issues, including access to data, verifying roadworthiness, legal liability and insurance implications. If self-driving vehicles are to …

In principle we welcome the introduction of self-driving vehicles, but the Government must take a cautious, gradual approach with the technology introduced only in well- defined and appropriate contexts. As such, we broadly welcome the strategy the Government has set out. However, without careful handling, self-driving vehicles could worsen congestion and exacerbate existing inequalities in transport access. The Government must ensure the introduction of self-driving vehicles is responsive to...

Why linked: Transport Committee recommendation that government adopt a cautious, gradual approach — directly informs the regime's safety architecture.

In principle we welcome the introduction of self-driving vehicles, but the Government must take a cautious, gradual approach with the technology introduced only in well- defined and appropriate contexts. As such, we broadly welcome the strategy the Government has set …

The self-driving vehicle sector is a British success story. We were impressed, unfailingly so, by the energy, creativity, and expertise of all those we met, whether from industry, academia, Government or somewhere in between. We have a competitive advantage, and we must maintain it. To do this the Government must bring forward and pass comprehensive legislation in the next parliamentary session to put in place the robust regulatory framework it promised. Failing to do so will do significant a...

Why linked: Transport Committee report finding on the UK self-driving sector — directly relevant to the regime's commercial framing.

The self-driving vehicle sector is a British success story. We were impressed, unfailingly so, by the energy, creativity, and expertise of all those we met, whether from industry, academia, Government or somewhere in between. We have a competitive advantage, and …

The current laws for self-driving vehicles are archaic and limiting, especially concerning testing and legal liability. We commend the work of the Law Commissions and the Government in devising a new legal framework. That framework has broad support, albeit with more detail needed in some areas. This makes it deeply disappointing that the Government will not commit to legislating in this Parliament to put this framework in place.

Why linked: Transport Committee 'Self-driving vehicles' report conclusion praising Law Commissions and Government on the new regime — substantive on-thread scrutiny content.

The current laws for self-driving vehicles are archaic and limiting, especially concerning testing and legal liability. We commend the work of the Law Commissions and the Government in devising a new legal framework. That framework has broad support, albeit with …