Jun 24th, 2021
4 mins
This consultation sets out proposals to amend The Highway Code in order to create rules on the safe use of automated vehicles on Britain’s motorways.
The consultation is an outcome requirement of the August 2020 call for evidence on ensuring safe use of Automated Lane Keeping Systems.
Automated vehicle technology is set to play a major role in the transport revolution happening today across the UK, helping to improve transport across the nations by making everyday journeys safer, more flexible and more reliable. The UK’s open regulatory regime, world-class research base, and industry and government investment in automated vehicle technology, have made the UK one of the global
leaders in its development.
This consultation aims to ensure that the UK’s first steps towards the introduction of automation to the mass market are done so in a way that is safe, clear on driver responsibilities and supportive of innovation.
The UK has played a vital role in developing international regulations to support the introduction of increasing automation, in particular through Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) work at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The
ALKS regulation was endorsed in March 2020, starting the process to allow vehicles fitted with this technology to come to market. ALKS will be the first approved system designed to perform the dynamic driving task instead of the driver, under certain conditions. ALKS is an important first step towards the development of systems with higher levels of autonomy.
The ALKS regulation sets out the technical requirements for ALKS, but certain aspects of its use require further consideration at a national level.
Responses were sought from a wide range of respondents including academia, representative organisations, industry and the public. The closing date for comments was 28 May 2021.
The document is available here.
Department for Transport April 2021
