To ensure self-driving vehicles improve road safety, increase community connectivity, and make roads cleaner and more efficient, experts have set out what they call “red lines” to the government.
“Self-driving technology could pave the way for safer roads, increased mobility and productivity, and cleaner transport,” said AXA UK customer risk management director Dougie Barnett (pictured).
“However, alongside the legislation, the government must work with the industry to ensure there is no public confusion surrounding autonomous vehicles and place more emphasis on educating the public on how to use and interact with these vehicles safely.”
According to the insurer, the ‘red lines’ recommended by industry experts include establishing a statutory definition of “self-driving” to distinguish it from assisted driving tech; having a non-prescriptive and flexible regulatory framework that allows use cases; and setting up clear lines of liability, accountability, and responsibility for road safety.
It was also recommended that there be minimum standards for data sharing and handling; having a framework centred on the principle of interoperability; introducing regulatory sandboxes to allow testing of innovative use cases; and developing a communications toolkit to accompany future legislation.
“The CAM APPG was delighted to discuss how the upcoming Transport Bill can deliver the benefits of autonomous technology to local communities up and down the country,” stated Ben Everitt, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on connected and automated mobility (CAM).
“As we await the government’s response to the Law Commission of England and Wales review into self-driving vehicles and the call for evidence on the future of connected and automated mobility in the UK, the APPG will continue to advise on how we can build on the great progress made to date and ensure that the whole country is able to benefit from these innovative technologies.”
This particular APPG was set up with the backing of AXA UK, law firm Burges Salmon LLP, and transport consultancy WSP.
“It’s vital that legislation is an enabler to self-driving technology,” commented Burges Salmon partner Lucy Pelger. “The right legislative framework will not only advance the UK’s position in the global CAM market but will importantly support in building the public’s trust and confidence in CAM technology. We look forward to the government’s response to the Law Commission’s recommendations.”
It’s been confirmed that self-driving vehicles will be included in the Transport Bill, in a move that is seen as a significant step forward. In the view of proponents, self-driving technology is poised to be a life-changing transport revolution.
“The forthcoming Transport Bill promises to unlock the potential that autonomous mobility provides,” asserted WSP’ Giles Perkins, head of profession, future mobility.
“We need to ensure the bill acts as a catalyst to enable use cases and applications that really deliver benefits for people, communities, and businesses. This must happen not only in our cities but the areas surrounding them and, importantly, rural geographies which often get overlooked.”
