Automated vehicles

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PB62

Key points

• Automated vehicles (AVs), also referred to as autonomous, driverless, or self-driving vehicles, refers to vehicles using a combination of sensors, computation, and AI to perform the driving task for a sustained period during a trip.
• AVs use a combination of technologies to collect and interpret many types of data. AVs’ onboard systems use computing, including AI, to process the large quantities of data collected.
• AVs are being developed and trialled across the UK. Trials range from private and public mass transport vehicles to farm vehicles and warehouse trucks. There is uncertainty and a lack of agreement over if and when automated vehicles will be commercially available in the UK.
• Some vehicles that can autonomously drive with no need for human intervention within specific geographical limits are operational in the US and China. In the UK, advanced driver assistance systems, sometimes referred to as partially automated driving features, such as adaptive cruise control, exist in many vehicles including cars, vans and lorries on the road. The human driver is still required to be fully in control of the vehicle.
• The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 received royal assent in May 2024. The act sets out government powers to make regulations and adapt existing regulations for AVs.
• Stakeholders, including some industry professionals and some academics, think that bringing AVs to UK roads could have benefits including improved road safety and access to transport. In 2023, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders estimated that by 2040 the AV industry could deliver an annual economic benefit of £66 billion to the UK economy.
• Some non-profit organisations, academics and industries have highlighted concerns around the development of AVs, such as the management of data and cyber security, who would be liable in the event of an accident, increased congestion and vehicle miles, environmental impacts and impacts on jobs.
• Some academics, AV industry professionals and trade associations indicate the requirement for secondary legislation to provide detailed safety requirements, strategic partnerships to pool resources and develop AVs that meet the needs of the public, and investments to enable the successful rollout of AVs on public UK roads.

Acknowledgements

POSTbriefs are based on literature reviews and interviews with a range of stakeholders and are peer reviewed. POST would like to thank interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including:  

Paul Martynenko MBE from the POST Board*

House of Commons Library Staff

Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles*

Professor Siddartha Khastgir, WMG, University of Warwick

Dr Sam Hind, University of Manchester*

Andre Burgess, National Physical Laboratory*

Professor Joseph Giacomin, Brunel University*

Professor Miles Elsden, The Institute for Engineering

Jamie Hodsdon, Oxa*

Ashley Feldman, techUK

Dr Debbie Hopkins, University of Oxford*

Professor Tim Schwanen, University of Oxford*

Michael Szczepanski, Met Office*

Dr Dave Jones, Met Office*

Professor Graham Parkhurst, University of the West of England

Dr Roger Morgan, Pupils2Parliament

Professor Phillip Morgan, University of Cardiff

*Denotes people and organisations who acted as external reviewers of the briefing