Commons transport committee sounds warning on driverless cars

In its latest report, the Commons transport committee says that rise of driverless car technology represents a great opportunity for the UK automotive sector, but warns that the government needs to develop a clearer strategy around the introduction of disruptive automotive technologies.

The group of eleven MPs, which is charged with scrutinising the activities of the Department for Transport, calls on the government set out in detail how it will reform legislation to deal with driverless cars and address the relatively imminent scenario of manual, autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles running together on UK roads.

The report argues that in order to reassure the public, the Department for Transport needs to explain how vehicles will be certified and tested, how drivers will be trained, and how driving standards will be regulated. It suggests, for instance, that vehicle ownership will carry new obligations such as ensuring that the latest software updates have been applied to a vehicle.