Launch of Consultation for Authorization of Automated Systems Managing Passenger Services

The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, has announced the launch of a new consultation on the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permission scheme and draft statutory instrument. This consultation is part of the UK Government's ongoing efforts to make self-driving vehicles safe and accessible.

The consultation aims to gather opinions from representative groups, industry stakeholders, trade unions, and the general public regarding the safety and efficiency of self-driving vehicles. The feedback collected will influence future Government policy over the use of these vehicles in Great Britain.

The Automated Vehicles Act, which requires all self-driving vehicles to perform at a level at least as high as competent human drivers, will form a legal element of how taxi, private-hire, and bus-like services of self-driving cars will be regulated in the UK. The statutory instrument will be a crucial part of this regulatory framework.

The Government has decided to fast-track pilots of self-driving passenger vehicles to Spring 2026. This move allows firms to pilot minor scale services without a safety driver for the first time. The APS regime is seen as a significant step towards making AV services a commercial reality in the UK.

The APS regime is expected to enable the creation of new public transport services, enhancing the current transport network. Self-driving vehicles are seen as an opportunity to improve transport for many people, particularly those in rural areas or unable to drive.

The self-driving technology has the potential to improve transport for millions of people, stimulate innovation, create thousands of jobs, and drive investment to put more money in people's pockets. The self-driving vehicle pilots are hoped to enable the Government to deliver its Plan for Change with the creation of 38,000 jobs.

Discussions in the consultation will include accessibility of self-driving vehicles for disabled users and older people. The trial of an autonomous vehicle on UK roads was conducted by an unspecified company in 2016. Each application for self-driving vehicle operation will involve companies undergoing rigorous safety tests before being given permission.

The consultation is open for 10 weeks and is set to conclude before the full implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act in the second half of 2027. The Department for Transport (DfT) in the United Kingdom is the government authority involved in the consultation on the Automated Passenger Vehicle Service Scheme and the draft Statutory Instrument to regulate the licensing of autonomous taxis, private rides, and bus-like services of autonomous vehicles in the UK.

In summary, the UK Government's consultation on the APS permission scheme and draft statutory instrument is a significant step towards the commercialisation of self-driving vehicles in the UK. The consultation aims to ensure the safety and accessibility of these vehicles while driving innovation, creating jobs, and improving transport for millions of people.

Launch of Consultation for Authorization of Automated Systems Managing Passenger Services