No Driverless Cars On The UK Roads Until 2027

Plans for introducing driverless vehicles onto UK roads have been delayed, with Government authorisation for full self-driving technology now not anticipated until 2027. This is a year later than predicted by the previous government, which claimed it would be 2026, following the passage of the Automated Vehicles Act in 2024.

Initially outlined in the King’s Speech in November 2023, the legislation aimed to establish the UK as a leader in regulating autonomous vehicle technologies and create a legal foundation that outlines liability for self-driving cars. Under this law, drivers are not held accountable for the vehicle's actions while it is in autonomous mode. However, further detailed legislation is still required before fully driverless cars are allowed on public roads.

Although some semi-autonomous systems are currently permitted, they still require a driver to remain behind the wheel and take responsibility for the vehicle’s operation, even when automation is in use.

The Department for Transport (DfT) informed the BBC that it is moving “quickly” to bring autonomous driving to UK roads, with legislation set for implementation in the “second half of 2027.”

Several companies are already testing advanced autonomous technologies across the UK. This includes UK-based developer Wayve, while Uber has expressed its readiness to deploy its driverless ‘robotaxis’ in Britain, which is already operational in parts of the United States.

Tesla has also been showcasing its Full Self-Driving capability in Europe. Notably, its Model 3 was able to navigate through 12 lanes of traffic at Paris’s Arc de Triomphe. Tesla shared with Fleet News that no specific UK launch date has been set, saying, “Tesla is currently working with regulators to receive approval for full self-driving (supervised) in Europe, aiming to launch the feature on existing and new vehicles as quickly as possible.”

Dr Saber Fallah, Professor of safe AI and autonomy at the University of Surrey, said: “The UK’s cautious approach in the rollout of self-driving vehicles is not only appropriate but necessary for ensuring public trust and long-term safety.

While the maturity of certain technologies, such as those proposed by Uber, is advancing rapidly, readiness must be judged not just on how well the technology performs in ideal conditions but also on how consistently and reliably it makes decisions in complex real-world environments.

The fundamental challenge lies in bridging the gap between statistical learning and human-level reasoning. Current autonomous vehicle systems often lack the capacity to explain their decisions, adapt meaningfully to unique scenarios, or respond with the nuanced judgement that human drivers routinely demonstrate.”