Driverless cars will face restrictions on our roads

Driverless cars will be restricted because governments are reluctant to allow them to make “life and death” decisions, an automotive executive has said.

Technological developments could result in vehicles “full of passengers with no driver” in around five years but legislation will limit their use, according to Dr Ian Robertson, a member of the board of management at BMW AG.

He predicted there will be “a phased approach” to the use of driverless cars, with different rules for motorways and local roads.

Speaking at a conference in central London organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), he said: “The autonomous vehicle will be capable of making decisions which would – in the event of an accident – result in a set of scenarios where the decision being made could result in life and death.

“I don’t think we will reach the stage where legislation allows that in the foreseeable future. I think we will restrict it.”

During the connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) summit, business secretary Greg Clark announced plans for the first phase of the Government’s £100 million investment in testing infrastructure to development the technology.

Self-driving cars were tested by a major manufacturer on public roads in the UK for the first time this month, covering more than 300 miles.

Google’s prototype two-seater self-driving car.