Source: Gasgoo
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According to Reuters, on December 27, British Transport Minister Mark Harper said that self-driving cars may appear on some British roads by 2026.
Harper noted that fully self-driving cars are not currently allowed on the roads in the UK, but the UK Parliament is considering the government’s self-driving car legislation, which means that by the end of 2024, the legal framework for self-driving cars in the UK should be in place.
In an interview with the BBC, Harper said, “It could be as early as 2026 that people will start to see some cars being rolled out with fully self-driving capabilities. It will be gradual …… So some companies will roll out fully self-driving cars in the UK and roll them out for use in certain places.”
Image source: Tesla
Self-driving technology is already been tested in the US, but critics argue that self-driving cars could lead to crashes. In California, General Motors’ self-driving car subsidiary Cruise had its self-driving licence revoked by local regulators after an accident.
Harper said the technology has the potential to improve road safety. “Everything I’ve seen about self-driving cars and self-driving technology is very focused on keeping people safe.”
Under legislation announced last November, the U.K. plans to make the manufacturers of self-driving cars legally responsible for any accidents, rather than the owners of the cars being held liable. The UK government said the bill would protect users and promote safety in the self-driving industry.
