Government launches major consultation on autonomous cars

New measures are set to reform our roads for advanced driver assistance and driverless technology

Government launches major consultation on autonomous cars
Advanced driver assistance systems are already beginning to filter their way down into the aftermarket with some experts warning that independents are not equipped to handle such equipment.

A consultation which is inviting drivers to have their say and help pave the way for automated cars to be used on British roads was launched yesterday.

Under the proposed measures, rules will be changed so automated vehicles can be insured for use on the roads.

In addition, the highway code and regulations are to be altered so advanced driver assistance systems that change lanes on the motorway and park the vehicle by remote control.

Transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin said: “Driverless car technology will revolutionise the way we travel and deliver better journeys.

“Britain is leading the way but I want everyone to have the chance to have a say on how we embrace and use these technologies.”

Business secretary, Sajid Javid said: “Britain’s auto industry has always been at the forefront of innovation and research.

“This additional £30 million of funding for research and development is a further sign of our commitment to making sure we’re creating opportunities for UK businesses to thrive and attract global investment in world-class technology.”

Industry skills

Steve Nash, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) welcomes the consultation and confirms that the IMI will be submitting its recommendations regarding the technical competency of those servicing and repairing connected and autonomous vehicles.

He said: “The introduction of autonomous vehicles on UK roads has the potential to make a huge difference to social inclusion, but clearly there are a number of issues that must be considered for those using such emerging technologies to feel safe and protected – physically and financially.

“Currently anyone can work on a vehicle – servicing or repairing it – without any form of license.

“And this already presents a risk to motorists – how can they be sure that their vehicle has been serviced or repaired to the right standard?

“This risk will be heightened if the testing of the technical competency of those working on autonomous vehicles isn’t properly assessed on an on-going basis.” 

 

Advanced driver assistance systems

Cars with advanced driver assistance features, like remote control parking and motorway assist, are expected to be on sale in Britain in the next two to four years with automated and driverless vehicles expected on the roads any time from the mid-2020s.

Insurance law will also be changed so that, in the future, motorists who have handed control to their ‘self-driving’ cars can be insured.

The proposed changes to insurance will be brought forward in the Modern Transport Bill.

The driver’s insurer will still pay out in the normal way so road accident victims are promptly reimbursed – but the insurer will then be able to claim the money back from the car company if the vehicle is deemed to be at fault.

Do have any concerns about advanced driver assistance features and autonomous vehicles? With such vehicles expected to be on the roads by 2020, what could it mean for the independent aftermarket? Please leave your comments.

4 Comments

  1. Simply means aftermarket mechanics will have to step up their game.
    I’ve worked at dealers and independent and the technicians are no different.
    It’s just lazyness in the aftermarket and the get out clause
    “It will have to go dealer m8”
    Lazy.

    Reply
  2. Simply means aftermarket mechanics will have to step up their game.
    I’ve worked at dealers and independent and the technicians are no different.
    It’s just lazyness in the aftermarket and the get out clause
    “It will have to go dealer m8”
    Lazy.

    Reply
  3. Unfortunately mechanics will be redundant, as autonomous vehicles will be Electric and not combustible anymore.

    Reply
  4. Unfortunately mechanics will be redundant, as autonomous vehicles will be Electric and not combustible anymore.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Have your say!

0 0

Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.