Government paves the way for hands-free driving on UK motorways by the end of this year - but insurers warn that calling tech self-driving may cause a spike in accidents
DfT announced this morning that the first types of self-driving vehicles could be on UK roads by end of 2021
Automated Lane Keeping Systems would permit hands-free driving on motorways at speeds up to 37mph
Ministers say the tech could ease congestion, cut emissions and reduce accidents caused by human error
Consultation to take place to make changes to Highway Code to allow these systems to be used on the road
Driverless cars set for UK roads by the end of the year
The first driverless cars could appear on the UK s roads by the end of the year. (Getty Images)
Britain’s roads could see their first driverless cars by the end of the year after the Department for Transport gave an autonomous driving system the green light today.
Officials said that the technology could improve road safety by reducing human error, which contributes to over 85 per cent of accidents.
In a statement this morning, the DfT confirmed that vehicles fitted with the Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) technology would be the first such cars to be legalised.
Self-driving cars could be on UK roads this year, the government announces It will be safer than people driving and if it’s not, then we won’t do it
The video will auto-play soon8Cancel
Play now
direct to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Click here
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Your information will be used in accordance with ourPrivacy Notice.
Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice
Self-driving cars could be on UK roads for the first time later this year, the Department of Transport has announced.