The UK government has been anticipating the imminent arrival of driverless cars for many years, but the technology is just one of the components needing further development before autonomous vehicles (AVs) appear on Britain’s roads. The reality of AVs hinges on developing a legal framework that underpins how they are safely and responsibly used.
The first hurdle will be assessing what the law requires from the ‘driver’. Before relinquishing control and becoming just a passenger, the driver will have to understand the limits of the systems they’re using. The artificial intelligence systems that will take over driving responsibilities have had years of training, during which cars equipped with sensors have been gathering data on traffic and the behaviour of road users. Now the time for updated driver training is approaching, and there is a question of whether this should form part of the UK driving test, or whether the obligation should fall on vehicle...