Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Accepted
Autonomous vehicles require sufficient road line markings, presenting a future maintenance challenge.
Recommendation
We also asked the Department about the condition local roads would need to be in to support the introduction of autonomous vehicles from 2026. The Department recognised that there will be challenges. For example, one of the semi-autonomous technologies, already licensed for use on the strategic road network, require road line markings to be of a sufficient standard so that they can be detected by its autonomous vehicles. The Department told us that National Highways is currently exploring the impacts of autonomous vehicles on road layout, lane markings and roadwork designs and maintenance across the strategic road network. 78
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation to refresh the Code of Practice by September 2026, commissioning TRL to scope updated guidance that will consider the challenges posed by autonomous vehicles and the required road infrastructure standards.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: September 2026 6.2 The government agrees that the current guidance that has been provided to local highway authorities through the ‘Code of Practice for Well Managed Highway Infrastructure’ document should be refreshed. The department has commissioned TRL to work with the sector to develop a scope for the refreshed guidance regarding where there may be gaps in the current guidance, such as around some environmental matters. The department will consider further whether, and if so how, local highway authorities might be required to comply with certain best practice criteria set out in the revised guidance to qualify for some or all of the funding. 6.3 The update to the code of practice is currently estimated to take between 12 and 18 months, so it will not be feasible to link it to the incentive element directly, which will be in place from quarter one in financial year 2025-26.