UK's Autonomous Vehicle Law Takes Effect, Clearing Path for First Driverless Cars by 2026

The U.K. has officially established its “world-leading” regulations for self-driving cars, following the royal assent of the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act—marking the crucial final step for any legislation to become law. The government anticipates that fully autonomous vehicles could soon be navigating U.K. roads, potentially as early as within two years.

“While this doesn’t prevent individuals from choosing to drive themselves, our groundbreaking legislation enables self-driving vehicles to hit British roads by 2026, enhancing both safety and bolstering our economy,” stated Transport Secretary Mark Harper.

This announcement follows closely behind Wayve, a U.K.-based autonomous vehicle startup, securing over $1 billion in funding from major investors like SoftBank, Nvidia, and Microsoft to advance its self-learning software for self-driving technology.

Historically, the U.K. has permitted the testing of driverless cars on public roads; however, strict guidelines have been in place for companies seeking to innovate. As the autonomous vehicle sector has matured, the necessity for a revised legal framework has become essential. Although preliminary groundwork for this legislation began years prior, the formal introduction of the AV Act came in a 2022 report from the Law Commissions of England, Wales, and Scotland. This report highlighted that the advent of autonomous vehicles necessitates a complete overhaul of legal terminology, regulatory frameworks, and the assignment of new responsibilities and liabilities. It stated:

“The introduction of automated vehicles will have profound legal consequences… it necessitates new regulatory schemes and new actors (with new responsibilities and liabilities). We advocate for primary legislation—a new Automated Vehicles Act—to manage automated vehicles on roads or other public spaces in Great Britain.”

— Automated Vehicles: Joint Report of the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission

Liability for Self-Driving Car Accidents

The U.K. aims to position itself as a leader in the autonomous vehicle industry, actively funding various AV projects and safety research. The government emphasizes the potential safety enhancements of self-driving cars, particularly their ability to reduce human error on the roads. However, it acknowledges that accidents will still occur, as evidenced by data from the U.S., where autonomous technology has a more established presence. California, for example, has increasingly been at the forefront of developing AV regulations.

A pivotal component of the U.K.’s new framework is the issue of liability in accidents involving self-driving cars. Who is responsible in the event of a crash? In 2022, the U.K. clarified its stance by releasing a roadmap that stated that when a vehicle is in self-driving mode, responsibility for any incidents will rest with the corporations involved. This means that a human driver would not be liable for events occurring when the vehicle autonomously operates.

Each approved self-driving vehicle will be linked to an “authorized self-driving entity,” typically the vehicle manufacturer but potentially including the software developer or insurance provider. This entity will assume responsibility when the vehicle is operating in self-driving mode.

To ensure safety, the government will establish a rigorous vehicle approval system supported by an independent incident investigation function. Companies granted permission to operate under the new regulations will be required to meet ongoing safety obligations.