British self-driving tech could save lives, cut insurance premiums and reduce congestion

1 November 2023

Connected and automated mobility (CAM) refers to vehicles with technology that enables them to safely drive themselves with no human input in some places and conditions and to connect with each other and the infrastructure, as well as the services that are spawned by the application of the technology.

In its new report, Connected and automated mobility: The UK economic and market opportunities, SMMT highlights that 29,742 people were killed or seriously injured in road collisions in Britain in 2025 , while human error is a contributory factor in up to 88% of all road traffic accidents. Widespread CAM adoption could contribute to improvements in on-road and off-road safety, with an estiConnected and automated mobility: It estimates that 3,900 fewer fatalities and a reduction of around 60,000 serious accidents over the period between 2023 and 2040.

The greatest proportion of these are in passenger vehicle segments, both privately owned cars as well as passenger transport services, which are expected to account for up to 80% and 87% of the reductions in fatalities and serious accidents respectively. Connected vehicle features that warn of road hazards ahead or a vehicle approaching at speed at a blind intersection could reduce accidents by helping to improve driver decision making, while automated driving technology is likely to result in significant reduction in human errors that lead to accidents. Even in off-road environments, there could be a reduction of accidents between 15% and 78%, depending on use cases, due to a combination of a decrease in, or mitigation of, human errors and reduced time, or presence, of staff working in hazardous environments.

CAM tech enables vehicles to drive without human intervention while connecting with each other and surrounding infrastructure.