Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Paragraph: 33
Self-driving vehicles offer potential benefits, but progress has been slower than predicted, breeding cynicism.
Conclusion
There is a broad range of possible uses for self-driving vehicles, and we believe they have the potential to improve transport connectivity with significant safety, productivity, and mobility benefits. However, over the last decade, progress in this technology has failed to meet many of its promoters’ predictions, and this has bred understandable cynicism.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the premise and outlines how its existing CAM 2025 white paper, Automated Vehicles Bill, and CAVPASS safety programme already address the potential benefits and gradual uptake of self-driving vehicles, including considerations for disabled persons and public acceptance.
Paragraph Reference:
33
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government accepts this recommendation. The Government’s CAM 2025 white paper recognised the importance of delivering the social benefits of self-driving vehicles and working to avoid potential negative consequences. In particular, it recognised the need to support implementation in line with the Future of Transport principles, to develop CAM with the public, and to integrate with wider transport networks. As with other new vehicles and technologies, it is expected that the uptake of self-driving vehicles will be gradual and that they will make up only a small proportion of vehicles on the road for a number of years. This uptake period provides an opportunity for the Government to learn from trials and early deployments, and to adapt its plans. It also provides the public with a period of time within which to adjust to this new technology. The self-driving vehicles safety framework, which is set out in the recently announced Automated Vehicles Bill, makes it clear that self-driving systems will be assessed for use in well-defined locations and circumstances. This is essential to ensure their safe and proper deployment. CAM 2025 highlighted how the Future of Transport principles apply to self-driving vehicles. This includes consideration of access and congestion. The Government is committed to ensuring that CAM services are available to all parts of the UK and across society. In support of this, the Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicle’s (CCAV) latest funding round (Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM)) was focussed on shared services and logistics. Further to this, CCAV awarded £1.5 million in funding for feasibility studies which consider the part which self- driving vehicles can and should play in mass transit. The Automated Vehicles Bill also considers equality in the provision of passenger services. In deciding whether to grant an automated passenger service permit, government must have regard to how the service will meet the needs of disabled and older persons. The permit scheme is designed to support learning and improvements over time. Accessibility 1 Internal analysis by the Department for International Trade (now the Department of Business and Trade) needs are also part of more detailed research being undertaken as part of the Government’s safety assurance programme (Connected and Automated Vehicles: Process for Assuring Safety and Security (CAVPASS)), involving stakeholders such as the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC). Public support and acceptance of self-driving vehicles will be essential to their success. The Government’s programme of social and behavioural research is designed to explore and understand the expectations and needs of the public in relation to self-driving vehicles. The results will be fed into policy development and planning.