The UK government has opened applications for companies to operate self-driving passenger vehicle services on roads across Great Britain.
The pilot scheme is intended to support the development of autonomous transport regulation and technology. It will allow approved operators to run self-driving taxis, buses and private hire-style vehicles under government supervision. The pilots are expected to begin later this year.
The programme will collect real-world evidence on how autonomous vehicles operate in everyday traffic conditions, including in urban environments and while carrying passengers.
Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood said:Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, whilst driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK.
This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.
Companies seeking to take part will be required to pass approval checks covering vehicle safety, cybersecurity and operational standards before services are permitted to begin. Local transport authorities, including Transport for London, will also need to approve services operating within their areas.
The pilot scheme forms part of wider work to prepare regulations for self-driving vehicles in Britain. The government is currently developing legislation following a Call for Evidence on automated vehicle regulation that closed in March.
Notably, human error contributes to 88 percent of collisions on UK roads. Safety will remain central to the pilot scheme.
The scheme is also intended to support growth in the UK autonomous vehicle sector. The government said the industry could create thousands of jobs and contribute billions of pounds to the economy by 2035.
Several companies have signalled plans to participate in the programme, including British autonomous driving company Wayve and US-based firms Uber and Waymo.
