A detailed three-year review of driving laws by the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission has commenced, as the UK gears up for its not-so-distant self-driving future.
Part of the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge set out in the government’s Industrial Strategy, the regulatory review will examine where reforms would be necessary to make sure the laws are ready for the next generation of vehicles and that the legal aspect won’t get in the way of the technology.
Here are some of the key questions the joint review aims to answer:
The review will also look into whether there is a need for new criminal offences.
“The UK is a world leader for self-driving vehicle research and development, and this work marks an important milestone in our continued commitment to the technology,” said Roads Minister Jesse Norman. “With driving technology advancing at an unprecedented rate, it is important that our laws and regulations keep pace so that the UK can remain one of the world leaders in this field.”
For TRL chief executive Rob Wallis, regulation, safety standards, and vehicle insurance models all play a key role in enabling change, while giving society confidence that new products and services can be introduced safely.
