Self-driving cars could be on British roads within 3 years, says Transport Secretary Mark Harper. The British Parliament is yet to consider legalizing self-driving cars, but according to the minister, laws surrounding the technology should be finalized by the end of next year.
Last month it was announced that the United Kingdom would introduce legislation to regulate liability for accidents involving non-human-driven cars. The British government wants to make automakers legally liable if a self-driving car crashes. It should ensure the safety of industrial vehicles and the protection of vehicle users.
The safety of self-driving vehicles is not guaranteed. For example, in October, a so-called robotaxi hit a pedestrian in the US city of San Francisco. It happened in a vehicle from the company Cruise, which specializes in self-driving cars from carmaker General Motors. After the crash, Cruz took hundreds of robotaxis off the road in several major U.S. cities. Research on the safety of these vehicles is currently underway.
However, Transport Minister Harper says the technology has the potential to improve road safety. “Everything I’ve seen about autonomous vehicles and self-driving technologies is focused on keeping people safe.”
