|
Cars with full self-driving technology are not currently
permitted on Britain's roads but the government's Automated
Vehicles (AV) legislation is going through parliament, meaning
that a legal framework for them should be in place by the end of
2024, said Harper.
"Probably by as early as 2026 people will start seeing some
elements of these cars that have full self-driving capabilities
being rolled out," Harper told BBC Radio.
"It'll be gradual...so there'll be companies rolling it out to
be used in certain places."
Critics of the technology, which has been trialed in the United
States, say that the vehicles can cause crashes, and in
California, regulators ordered General Motors' driverless car
unit Cruise to remove its vehicles from state roads after an
accident in October.
Britain's Harper said that the technology had the potential to
improve road safety.
"Everything I've seen about automated vehicles and self driving
technologies, it's very focused on keeping people safe," he
said.
Under the legislation announced in November, Britain plans for
the makers rather than the owners of self-driving cars to be
legally liable for any crashes, and the government has said the
bill will protect users and promote safety in the AV industry.
(Reporting by Sarah Young. Editing by Jane Merriman)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
