The widespread roll-out of self-driven buses in the UK is a step closer as the Automated Vehicles Act (AVA) became law today.
The bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 8 November, put in place a legal framework for the safe introduction of autonomous vehicles.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said today that the passing of the bill into law means self-driving vehicles could be on British roads by 2026, creating more than 38,000 jobs.
DfT adds that the minimum safety levels required by the new law could lead to big reductions in deaths and serious injuries on the roads.
Trials of self-driven bus services are already taking place, with the CAVForth and Mi-Link projects pioneering the development of the technology across the Forth Road Bridge and in Oxfordshire respectively.
Last week it was announced Alexander Dennis would supply three Enviro100AEV electric buses for an autonomous service due to start in Cambridge next year.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper says: “Britain stands at the threshold of an automotive revolution, and this new law is a milestone moment for our self-driving industry which has the potential to change the way we travel forever.
“While this doesn’t take away people’s ability to choose to drive themselves, our landmark legislation means self-driving vehicles can be rolled out on British roads as soon as 2026, in a real boost to both safety and our economy.”
Oxa, which builds software for autonomous vehicles and is partnering with eVersum to bring self-driven shuttle buses to Belfast by next year, welcomes the news.
Paul Newman, Founder and CTO of Oxa, adds: “The immense work put in by the DfT, Law Commissions and CCAV (Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles) in crafting the Automated Vehicles Bill has helped it pass into law with the strongest cross-party backing. We now have autonomous vehicle (AV) legislation which is more comprehensive in scope and clearer in its requirements than in any other country.
“The Act gives the UK new momentum as developers like Oxa will need to comply with the world’s most comprehensive autonomous vehicle laws to deploy technology in vehicles here. Meeting the highest AV standards will make British companies global leaders with technology that is the safest and AI systems the most trusted – all key to building business and public trust in autonomy globally.”
