Self-driving cars closer than ever
It will soon be legal to take your hands off the wheel
THE TIME WHEN you’ll be able to buy a selfdriving car is edging closer, and while we’re not there yet, taking your hands off the steering wheel in certain situations will be legal in the UK before the end of this year.
The Government has announced that cars fitted with automatic lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control will be permitted to drive at up to 37mph in a single lane without their drivers interacting with them, other than by keeping their attention on the road.
The law change has the potential to make motorway traffic jams less stressful for millions of drivers. However, it’s important to note that the Government also states that it must be possible for control to be “easily and safely” returned to the driver when needed.
A new consultation to update the Highway Code is being launched to “ensure that the first wave of this technology is used safely and responsibly”. This consultation will end on 28 May, so its findings are likely to be reported in late summer.
Many modern cars are already fitted with automatic lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, but at the moment you need to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times, according to the Highway Code. The current code adds that the use of driver assistance systems is allowed, but that they should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is also likely that the Road Traffic Act (1991) will need to be amended, because drivers have previously been prosecuted for driving without due care and attention for taking both hands off the steering wheel, as would be allowed under the new rules.
The Government hopes that advanced self-driving systems could eventually reduce the number of traffic accidents on British roads by as much as 85% by reducing human error.
The law change has been welcomed by industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which said the “vital step will put Britain in the vanguard of road safety and automotive technology”.
However, Thatcham Research, which conducts safety tests on behalf of Euro NCAP in the UK, has urged the Government to avoid using the word “automated”, while the Association of British Insurers said drivers “must not be given unrealistic expectations about a system’s capability”.