Driverless buses and vans on road in 2025, say ministers

SELF-DRIVING buses and vans could be allowed on Britain’s roads as early as 2025, says the UK Government.

Ministers will offer up to £40million to fund technology that will revolutionise public transport and delivery services.

The Transport Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech will create a legal framework for the ‘safe and responsible deployment’ of driverless road transport.

A full-sized driverless bus was roadtested by Stagecoach last month on a 14mile route across the Forth Road Bridge between Edinburgh and Fife, with a view to it being approved to carry passengers later this year.

Yesterday, the Department for Business said grants would help get self-driving buses, delivery vans, shuttles and ‘pods’ on UK roads from 2025.

The ministry says this will deliver ‘convenience for consumers and making journeys safer, greener and more reliable’. Ministers hope it will also boost the economy by £42billion and create 38,000 jobs by 2035.

Human error causes nine in ten road accidents and experts predict ‘robot’ vehicles could save up to 3,900 lives by 2030.