News, 22 May 2025
The introduction of driverless cars on UK roads is now postponed to 2027, a delay from the previous UK government’s projection of 2026.
While the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act, initially announced in November 2023, established a legal framework for autonomous vehicles, secondary legislation is still needed to enable truly driverless operation. The Act clarifies liability, ensuring drivers are not responsible when the vehicle is in self-driving mode.
Currently, limited self-driving features are permitted, but a driver must remain in control. According to the Department for Transport (DfT), it is investigating pilot programs to support the self-driving industry and plans to enact legislation pertaining to self-driving cars in the second half of 2027.
Companies like Wayve are already testing autonomous technology in the UK, and Uber has expressed readiness to launch its driverless taxi service. Tesla has also demonstrated its self-driving capabilities in Europe but has not provided a UK timeline.
Suggested Reading: The Great Self-Driving Exploration, A citizen view of self-driving technology in future transport systems
