Moderation Team
Summary: The UK government has initiated a public consultation to shape the future of self-driving vehicles, set to launch services next year. Future of Roads minister Lilian Greenwood announced plans for an automated passenger services (APS) permitting scheme, focusing on safety, accessibility, and innovation. The goal is to enhance mobility, particularly in rural areas, and provide new transport options. Pilots of self-driving vehicles are expected by spring 2026, allowing trials without safety drivers. Feedback is welcome from various stakeholders as the UK prepares for broader implementation by late 2027, with companies like Wayve and Oxa leading the way in autonomous technology.
The UK government has started a public consultation to “help shape the future” of self-driving vehicles ahead of the first services becoming available next year.
Future of Roads minister Lilian Greenwood launched a consultation on the automated passenger services (APS) permitting scheme and the draft statutory instrument, a key legal element of how self-driving taxi and private hire services – as well as bus-like services – will be regulated once they start operations on the road.
Safety, innovation, world-leading regulation and accessibility will be at the forefront of the consultation, said the government’s department for transport. Self-driving vehicles can provide greater choice and flexibility for passengers to get around more easily, including during unsociable hours.
They could also help add new public transport options in rural areas to boost connectivity for local communities and improve mobility, accessibility and independence for those unable to drive.
The consultation follows the recent government decision to fast-track pilots of self-driving passenger vehicles to next spring 2026.
The goal is to allow firms to pilot small-scale services without a safety driver for the first time – which could be available to members of the public to book via an app – before a potential wider rollout when the Automated Vehicles Act is implemented in full from the second half of 2027.
The consultation is open to representative groups, industry stakeholders, trade unions and members of the public.
A variety of issues for self-driving vehicles to run safely and efficiently include how they can be made as accessible as possible for disabled and older people, how services of self-driving vehicles are approved by councils and when a permit to operate a service should be varied, suspended or withdrawn.
Self-driving trials have been taking place in the UK since January 2015, with British companies Wayve and Oxa among the first companies in the sector to gain investment. Wayve secured over $1 billion and announced recent partnerships with Nissan and Uber.
Oxa has already supported bus-like services in the US and started rolling out self-driving vehicles at London’s Heathrow Airport to improve baggage handling. Gavin Jackson, CEO of Oxa, said his company was the first to trial an autonomous vehicle on UK roads back in 2016.
“We are delighted to see the UK continuing to progress towards making automated vehicle services a commercial reality,” he said.
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