UK Government remains committed to developing self-driving vehicles on British roads

8 April 2018

The UK  Department for Transport (DfT) told Fleet News that safety remained paramount to UK tests , which is why it said it was investing more than £250 million to support the industry with “full and proper trials and safe testing environments”.

“We will continue to work closely with industry to ensure the UK remains one of the best and safest places in the world to test self-driving vehicles,” said a Government spokesman.

Uber suspended all North American tests of its autonomous vehicles after the fatal collision on March 18. Its partner, chipmaker Nvidia, said it has also suspended all self-driving tests. 

Arizona state governor, Doug Ducey, also ordered officials to suspend Uber’s right to operate autonomous vehicles on local roads pending the outcome of inquiries by national transport safety regulators.

Here, roads minister Jesse Norman had already announced a three-year review of driving laws by the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission to enable autonomous cars to be developed and tested in the UK.

As reported by Fleet News, the Government spokesman said the “extensive regulatory reform programme ” would make sure that “the right laws are in place before the widespread use of these vehicles on UK roads”.

In the meantime, UK on-the-road testing will continue