Posted : 2021-04-28 16:06
Updated : 2021-04-28 16:06
Elizabeth Tower which contains Big Ben stands, right, near Parliament Square in London, April 27. AP-Yonhap
The UK government on Wednesday became the first country to announce it will regulate the use of self-driving vehicles at slow speeds on motorways, with the first such cars possibly appearing on public roads as soon as this year.
Britain s transport ministry said it was working on specific wording to update the country s highway code for the safe use of self-driving vehicle systems, starting with Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) ― which use sensors and software to keep cars within a lane, allowing them to accelerate and brake without driver input.
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Date: 28 April 2021 Â Â |Â Â Author: Sean Keywood
Self-driving cars could be allowed on British roads for the first time later this year, in limited circumstances, according to the Department for Transport.
It said automated lane keeping systems (ALKS) could be legalised, allowing drivers to hand over control to their vehicle. However, they would only be allowed on motorways, at speeds of up to 37mph, and the system would need to be able to safely return control to the driver when required.
Today s announcement has been welcomed by the motor industry - but drawn criticism from safety organisation Thatcham Research, and from insurers.