According to the country's new strategy for achieving a wider rollout of self-driving vehicles by 2025, manufacturers running self-driving vehicles in the UK would be liable for a vehicle's behavior when in autonomous mode. This means that human drivers would not be held accountable for mishaps that occur while the vehicle is in control of the driving.

The British government, while unveiling the roadmap, announced USD 119 million worth of investments for AV projects as well as USD 41 million for research to promote safety and new legislation for the EV segment particularly.

According to AA president Edmund King, the transition from assisted driving where the driver maintains control to self-driving where the automobile assumes control, is still rather substantial. Examining the interaction of these cars with other road users on various highways and in varying weather situations is crucial for the government, he added.

The UK aims to develop legislation based on existing laws to safeguard the security of autonomous technology, as well as capitalize on the rising market for AVs, which it values at about USD 50 billion with the potential to create 38,000 new jobs.

Notably, around USD 24 million out of the overall funding will be used to help unveil commercial self-driving services, such as self-driving grocery deliveries or airport shuttle pods. In addition, USD 7 million out of the total funding received will be used to promote commercialization and conduct additional market research.

According to the authorities, sometime next year, people with valid driver’s licenses may be able to purchase automobiles that can drive themselves on highways. Although Teslas are among the most popular vehicles sold in the UK, existing regulation forbids British drivers from testing out the vehicle’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), which includes several automatic driving features, in its full self-driving beta. 

However, new regulations are expected to open new avenues not only for ride-hailing, delivery, and public transportation but also for cars with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

Source Credit:

https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/21/human-drivers-in-uk-wont-be-liable-for-accidents-when-vehicle-is-self-driving/