Important Points
- The UK ratified the Autonomous Vehicles Act, sanctioning self-driving automobiles by 2026.
- The legislation is geared towards boosting road safety by minimizing human mistakes that lead to accidents.
- Automakers bear responsibility for incidents when autonomous vehicles are at fault.
The UK has officially approved the Autonomous Vehicles Act, allowing self-driving cars to operate on public roads by 2026. Although the law trails behind the US timeline, the government asserts that permitting driverless vehicles is a strategy to augment road safety by reducing human errors. Data indicates that in the UK, at least 88% of road collisions arise from human errors.
Furthermore, the new legislation mandates that self-driving vehicles must adhere to safety standards equivalent to those of competent human drivers. These automated vehicles will undergo rigorous safety assessments before being authorized to traverse the roads. Upon implementation, the UK anticipates a substantial decline in fatalities and injuries caused by driving under the influence, speeding, fatigue, and inattentiveness.
Responsibility of Manufacturers
The Autonomous Vehicles Act not only establishes a clear timeline but also delineates the manufacturers accountable in case of accidents involving self-driving cars, as endorsed by King Charles III. This applies solely when the responsible party is a truly autonomous vehicle that can autonomously navigate while adhering to all traffic regulations without human intervention.
Self-driving cars are currently undergoing trials on British roads, making this advancement a significant stride for British tech firms like Wayve, which operates a fleet of autonomous vehicles, including a Ford Mustang Mach-E.
“I am thrilled that the Automated Vehicles Bill has been granted Royal Assent. This marks a crucial step for the UK’s adoption of self-driving technology and solidifies the UK’s position as a global frontrunner in regulating this industry. We appreciate the government and all parties who have engaged in discussions with us regarding the significance of this legislation,” stated Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO of Wayve.
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A Contrast In America
In the US, some but not all states have authorized the deployment of autonomous vehicles on the streets, based on the most recent data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Several states permit only testing, while others restrict deployment to commercial vehicles exclusively.
Nonetheless, the self-driving car industry is presently facing scrutiny, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) commencing an investigation into Waymo robotaxis due to multiple instances of accidents and violations of traffic laws. Despite these challenges, more firms are striving to introduce their own autonomous vehicles on the roads, including Tesla, set to launch its robotaxi in a few months.
