The UK government has laid out the next steps in implementing the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act 2024, announcing a major regulatory shift that will allow the commercial rollout of fully autonomous passenger services without a safety driver by spring 2026.
Speaking to the House of Commons, UK transport minister Lilian Greenwood MP said the AV Act delivers “one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks of its kind anywhere in the world, with safety at its core”, and would give developers, manufacturers and operators “the confidence to invest in the UK”.
Central to the UK government’s plans is the introduction of an automated passenger services (APS) permitting regime, designed to address regulatory gaps where traditional taxi and bus legislation does not apply.
A public consultation will be launched this summer ahead of new rules being introduced early next year.
Greenwood described the move as key to “kickstarting economic growth” and enabling the kind of “creative mobility solutions that can drive growth”, pointing to AVs as a flagship example of how artificial intelligence (AI) can deliver real-world impact through automation.
She also confirmed the launch of a consultation on restricting marketing terms for AVs – such as ‘autonomous’ and ‘self-driving’ – to protect consumer trust and avoid misleading claims.
“We want to support the innovators and businesses that are building genuinely groundbreaking tech,” said Greenwood, adding that the measure would “boost investor confidence, consumer trust and driver certainty”.
A further 12-week call for evidence will inform the development of statutory safety principles, with Greenwood noting that these would “secure that authorised AVs achieve a safety level equal to or higher than careful and competent human drivers”.
All three announcements are described as “a cornerstone” of the government’s wider Transport AI Action Plan, which integrates AI into the future of mobility, with AV deployment positioned as a leading application area.
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