Following a public consultation, changes are set to be made to the Highway Code to ensure the technology associated with the first wave of self-driving cars will be used safely.
The newly proposed rules will include self-driving car users being allowed to watch TV and films – so-called “infotainment” screens.
Motorists will need to be ready to resume control in a timely way if they are prompted to do so, including when they approach motorway exits.
The other biggie that’s been unveiled as part of the new guidance is that insurance companies, instead of individuals, will be liable for claims if a self-driving car crashes.
Despite the introduction of “infotainment” screens being allowed, it will remain illegal to use phones behind the wheel.
Transport minister Trudy Harrison said the Highway Code update will be a “major milestone in our safe introduction of self-driving vehicles”, which she claimed will “revolutionise the way we travel, making our future journeys greener, safer and more reliable”.
As self-driving technology rapidly develops across the globe, the first vehicles given the green light for self-driving in this country could be ready for use as soon as later this year.
Vehicles will undergo rigorous testing and only be approved as self-driving when they have met stringent standards.
The new Highway Code rules follow a public consultation and are an interim measure before a full regulatory framework is implemented, expected to be in place by 2025.
What do you think of the proposed new Highway Code rules for self-driving cars? Will it encourage you to look into getting one when they officially hit the road?
