Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Rejected
Paragraph: 34
Expectations for self-driving vehicles are becoming more realistic, with circumscribed forms closer to reality.
Conclusion
Hopefully expectations of self-driving vehicle technology have become more realistic. Self-driving vehicles that can go anywhere at any time remain purely hypothetical, but in more circumscribed forms they can become reality. Nobody is likely to be taking a self-driving vehicle the whole way from Land’s End to John o’ Groats anytime soon, if ever, but self-driving bus services may become commonplace sooner rather than later.
Government Response Summary
The government does not accept the Committee's view on the proposed safety ambition, stating that setting it too high could stifle innovation and that a level equivalent to a competent and careful human driver is currently appropriate. It highlights the Automated Vehicles Bill and the 'safe system' approach in CAM 2025 to manage safety.
Paragraph Reference:
34
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government does not accept the Committee’s view on the proposed safety ambition. Safety is a priority for the Government and is a focus of the recently announced Automated Vehicles Bill. As set out in the Bill, it is the Government’s intention to publish a statutory ‘Statement of Safety Principles’ which will support the safety ambition and which will be used in the assessment of the safety of self-driving vehicles. CAM 2025 highlighted that balancing safety, innovation and public expectations is challenging, and must be considered carefully in the context of technologies that are still under development and about which public understanding is still being developed. Setting too high a level of ambition could have the effect of stifling the introduction of the technology and needlessly delay near-term safety improvements. A lower level of ambition would not deliver a publicly acceptable level of safety and risk undermining the introduction and uptake of the technology. It is the Government’s view that a competent and careful driver is safer than the average human driver and that a level of safety equivalent to that of a competent and careful driver it is an appropriate ambition at this time. As set out in CAM 2025, Government recognises that no technology is infallible and that new technologies generally bring new risks and challenges which must be managed and met. Government also recognises that road safety is not the result of vehicle technology alone, which is why CAM 2025 set out a ‘safe system’ approach aimed at embedding safety throughout the development, deployment and use of self-driving vehicles. This includes the development of detailed, clear and verifiable technical requirements for pre-deployment approval and in-use operation. These technical requirements are being developed as part of the CAVPASS programme, in discussion with stakeholders.