Self-driving cars will be on UK roads in 2026, says Transport Secretary

27 December 2023, 08:54

Transport Secretary Mark Harper having a ride in a self-driving car
Transport Secretary Mark Harper in self-driving vehicle. Picture: PA

Mark Harper said autonomous vehicle technology has ‘a huge number of potential uses’.

Autonomous cars enabling drivers not to concentrate on the road will be used in the UK from 2026, according to Transport Secretary Mark Harper.

The Cabinet minister said the technology has “a huge number of potential uses” including boosting road safety and making it easier for disabled people to travel independently.

The Automated Vehicles Bill to create a set of laws for using autonomous vehicles was introduced into Parliament last month.

Mr Harper told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The legislation is going through Parliament at the moment so hopefully we’ll get that through Parliament by the end of 2024.

“Probably by as early as 2026, people will start seeing some elements of these cars that have full self-driving capabilities being rolled out.

“We already know the technology works. You can see the technology being rolled out with a safety driver in place.

“I’ve seen the technology being used in California for example, without a safety driver, so in full, autonomous mode.

“This technology exists, it works and what we’re doing is putting in place the proper legislation so that people can have full confidence in the safety of this technology, which I think is one of the important things we’ve got to do.”

Asked if people will be able to travel in self-driving vehicles “with your hands off the wheel, doing your emails” in 2026, Mr Harper replied: “Yes, and I think that’s when companies are expecting – in 2026, during that year – that we’ll start seeing this technology rolled out.”

Responding to a question by former Top Gear presenter James May – who was Today’s guest editor – about why the Government is supporting the development of autonomous driving, Mr Harper claimed there are “a few” reasons.

He said: “I think it will actually improve road safety.

“We already have a very good road safety record in Britain but there are still several thousand people a year killed on our roads.

“That could be improved.

“It’s a big economic opportunity for Britain to get what will be a big global share of market.

“The final thing is, there are a lot of people who currently don’t have the opportunity to get the freedom that many of us drivers take for granted.

“For example, there are people who have disabilities, people with learning disabilities, who don’t have the same freedom that driving brings the rest of us.

“This potentially opens up a whole new world for personal freedom, getting to work, having the ability to not have to rely on other people.”

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

Hands holding the iPhone 16

How smartphones powered the AI boom in 2024

London skyline

US investor to snap up maritime AI specialist Windward for £216m

Donald Trump

How will a second Trump presidency impact the tech world in 2025?

Morning drone (002)

Drone project reaches ‘important milestone’ with final trial flights

Prime Minister hosts Chanukah reception

AI tech giants should not be subsidised by British creatives, Starmer signals

Dr Craig Wright arrives at the Rolls Building in London for the trial earlier this year (Lucy North/PA)

Computer scientist behind false Bitcoin founder claim sentenced for contempt

Google has been contacted for comment (PA)

ICO criticises Google over ‘irresponsible’ advertising tracking change

Some 22% of consumers have increased their use of second-hand shopping apps in the past three months (Depop/PA)

Millions of Britons earning average £146 a month on second-hand platforms

ChatGPT being used via WhatsApp

ChatGPT joins WhatsApp to allow anyone to access the AI chatbot

A Facebook home page on a laptop screen

Meta fined more than 250 million euro by Irish data commission following breach

Finger poised above WhatsApp app on smartphone

Ending use of WhatsApp is ‘clear admission’ Government was wrong, claim Tories

Phone with WhatsApp on the screen

Scottish Government to cease use of WhatsApp by spring, says Forbes

Open AI

OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT search engine tool to all users

Most people happy to share health data to develop artificial intelligence

Government launches consultation on copyrighted material being used to train AI

Debbie Weinstein

Google names UK executive as president for Europe, Middle East and Africa

The Apple App store app on an iPad (PA)

Shopping and Roblox named among most popular Apple App Store downloads of 2024