Driverless Cars Hit the Streets: Autonomous Vehicles Come to UK Roads

Introduction

I’m thrilled to see driverless cars hitting the streets here in the UK. As an automotive enthusiast, I’ve been closely following the development of autonomous vehicle technology over the past decade. With recent changes in UK law allowing driverless cars to operate on public roads, it’s an exciting time for this emerging technology. In this article, I’ll provide an in-depth look at the arrival of driverless cars on UK roads – from the key players to the benefits and challenges this brings. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

What Are Driverless Cars?

Also known as autonomous or self-driving vehicles, driverless cars are vehicles capable of sensing their environment and moving safely with little or no human input. They use a variety of sensors like radar, lidar, and cameras paired with powerful onboard computers running advanced AI software to ‘see’ and navigate their surroundings. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) defines driverless cars based on their autonomy level:

• Level 0 – No Automation: The driver completely controls the vehicle at all times
• Level 1 – Driver Assistance: Basic features like cruise control are automated but the driver must remain fully engaged
• Level 2 – Partial Automation: The vehicle can control steering and acceleration but the driver must monitor at all times
• Level 3 – Conditional Automation: The car drives itself under certain conditions but driver must be ready to take over when needed
• Level 4 – High Automation: Fully autonomous mode but might be restricted to certain areas or speeds
• Level 5 – Full Automation: The vehicle can drive itself anywhere, under any conditions without human input

The driverless cars now approved for UK roads are Level 4 highly automated vehicles. But they aren’t fully autonomous yet. A human safety operator must be present and ready to resume control if needed.

Why Are They Coming to the UK?

The UK has taken major steps recently to prepare for driverless cars and encourage their development. In April 2021, the Department for Transport (DfT) published the Future of Transport Regulatory Review, which outlined a framework for rolling out self-driving vehicles by 2025.

This led to changes in the Highway Code and Motorway Traffic Regulations to accommodate autonomous cars. Rules were updated to clarify that motorway users must now be ready to hand control back to a self-driving car if it’s operating in autonomous mode.

In August 2022, the DfT announced it was working with industry partners to fund and deliver the UK’s First Self-Driving Transport Service. Up to £13 million has been committed to begin passenger trials of driverless cars and other autonomous vehicles on roads across Britain starting in 2023.

The UK government sees many benefits in adopting this technology early. Driverless vehicles are expected to make road transport safer, greener, and more inclusive. The global market for autonomous cars is projected to be worth £41 billion by 2035. The UK aims to become a world leader in their development.

Who Are the Major Players?

A number of companies are gearing up to unleash driverless cars in the UK. Here are some of the major players leading the charge:

Oxbotica

Founded in 2014, this Oxford-based startup develops autonomous vehicle software. Oxbotica is partnering with Chinese automaker BYD to deploy a fleet of Level 4 electric driverless cars in the UK for a taxi service.

Wayve

Wayve uses deep learning to create driverless control systems. The company will begin trialling autonomous delivery vehicles on UK roads in partnership with the DfT.

Nissan & Hitachi

These automotive giants have been testing driverless Leaf electric cars on London streets since February 2022. They plan to have a full public autonomous taxi service running by 2024.

HumanDrive

HumanDrive is a joint project between industry and academia. They’ve developed autonomous control technology and will begin public road trials of adapted electric Ford Mondeos in 2023.

Aurrigo

Aurrigo makes self-driving shuttles and pods already operating in controlled settings like airports, industrial sites, and retirement villages. They’re now approved for autonomous trials on public roads.

Several traditional carmakers like Jaguar and BMW also have driverless car testing programmes underway in Britain.

What Are the Benefits?

I’m excited by the promise autonomous vehicles hold to transform transportation and society for the better. Here are some of the touted benefits of driverless cars coming to UK roads:

• Improved safety – Over 90% of accidents are caused by human error. Self-driving cars with 360-degree sensors don’t get distracted or tire, reducing accident risks.

• Increased accessibility – Driverless cars can provide mobility to elderly, disabled or young people unable to drive themselves. This promotes independence and social inclusion.

• More productive travel – Passengers in autonomous vehicles can use commute times productively by working, reading or relaxing instead of driving.

• Reduced congestion – Driverless cars can smoothly coordinate with each other reducing bottlenecks that human drivers cause. This optimises traffic flow.

• Environmental gains – Autonomous electric vehicles emit far less pollution. Coordinated driving optimises fuel usage. Less congestion reduces emissions further.

• New economic opportunities – The autonomous vehicle industry will create high-skilled jobs. New shared transport business models and vehicle subscriptions may emerge.

• Land use benefits – Less need for parking with rise of shared driverless vehicles. Infrastructure like driveways freed up for other uses.

What Are the Concerns and Challenges?

This technology shift also raises understandable concerns and obstacles that must be worked through:

• Public skepticism – Most people have never ridden in an autonomous car. Concerns over safety, security and loss of control persist. Building public trust will take time.

• Infrastructure compatibility – Roads, signs and parking will need adaptations for autonomous cars. Legacy infrastructure outpaces regulatory change.

• Cybersecurity risks – Driverless cars rely heavily on software and connectivity. They’re vulnerable to hacking, ransomware or data privacy issues if security is subpar.

• Legal & liability questions – Existing insurance and liability models don’t account for autonomous vehicles. Rules attributing blame in accidents must be updated.

• Jobs at risk – Automation inevitably affects employment. Jobs like drivers, mechanics, traffic cops will transform or decline. But new kinds of auto jobs will also emerge.

• Ethical dilemmas – Programming decision-making for unavoidable crashes raises ethical issues. How to choose between the least harmful options?

Overcoming these challenges in a safe and thoughtful way will be critical to integrating autonomous vehicles seamlessly into UK transport.

What’s Next for Driverless Cars in the UK?

The arrival of driverless cars on British roads will begin gradually. We’ll see small-scale pilot schemes and controlled operational trials first. Widespread adoption is still years if not decades away.

But this is an opportunity for the UK to take the wheel and lead the way globally. I’m eager to see the rollout of driverless vehicles, cautiously at first but gaining speed. Their positive impacts could transform transportation and society in so many ways. It’s an exciting time for this rapidly advancing technology!

The future of mobility is coming. Driverless cars hitting UK streets marks just the beginning of the autonomous vehicle era. Fasten your seatbelts – it’s going to be an incredible ride!