Driverless cars UK: autonomous technology, laws and future developments

Driverless cars, also known as autonomous vehicles or self-driving cars, have been in development for a little while – and will be on our roads sooner than you think.

But how do they work? When will they be available? Are they safe? Are they legal?

In an effort to find out, we discuss the issues that driverless cars must overcome and go over the infrastructure, legislative and technological developments that must happen before fully automated driving becomes a reality.

How do driverless cars work?

Say ‘driverless car’ and most of us imagine a machine that needs no input from a person — just select your destination and sit back and relax while the four-wheeled robot whisks you to where you need to be.  

That experience is still some way off, but many new cars already offer some degree of automation — even if, for legal reasons, you still have to keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. We’ll look at these in the next section.

A fully self-driving car uses numerous sensors and cameras to continuously scan the area around it, detecting hazards like vehicles, pedestrians, traffic lights, and road markings and then braking, accelerating or steering accordingly.

Its computer brain has the ability to ‘learn’ and make decisions based on experience, rather than following a pre-programmed set of commands — essential for dealing with changing traffic conditions or unmapped roads.

It may also share information with other driverless cars to prevent accidents and ease congestion.

Are driverless cars available now?

Technically, no, although there are elements of driverless technology available in some current cars:

Automatic emergency braking

Perhaps the most obvious example is automatic emergency braking (AEB) — now a standard feature on most family cars — that uses radars to scan the road ahead and hits the brakes if it detects an imminent collision.

Increasingly sophisticated versions of AEB can spot pedestrians and animals, too.

Adaptive cruise control

ACC, or Radar cruise control, which maintains a set distance to the car in front, is also becoming commonplace, and can reduce the stress of traffic jams as well as boosting safety at higher speeds.

Lane-keep assist

There’s also lane-keep assist, which steers you gently back into your motorway lane if you start to drift – and may permit brief periods of ‘hands-off’ driving, depending on the system.

Parking assist

Available in high-spec versions of several popular models, few pieces of kit get closer to the core of driverless technology than parking assist. Using a combination of sensors and cameras, a car with this feature is essentially able to park itself, judging the size of a space before steering in if suitable. The driver controls the speed, parking assist does the rest. 

What are the levels of autonomous driving?

There are six widely-accepted levels of automation for driverless cars:

Level Zero

No driving automation.

Level One

Technology assists the driver with some aspect of driving – by augmenting braking pressure during an emergency stop, for example.  

Level Two

At Level Two, the car can actually take over some aspects of driving. Automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist both fit this description.

Level Three

Now the car can actually drive itself, but only in certain environments (e.g. on motorways) and for very limited periods. The driver must take back control when requested.

Level Four

At Level Four, the car drives automatically for sustained periods without needing input from the driver. However, it can only operate this way in certain areas – roads that have been pre-mapped, for instance.

Level Five

Lastly, there’s complete A-to-B autonomy, with no input from the driver. As seen in countless sci-fi films, it’s the obvious end-goal for driverless cars (fully autonomous point-to-point travel).

When will autonomous cars be legal in the UK?

Self-driving vehicles are not yet permitted for general unsupervised use on UK roads. While many modern cars already feature advanced driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking, these technologies still require the driver to remain alert and responsible for the vehicle at all times.

The UK's Automated Vehicles Act 2024 has created the legal framework needed for the introduction of self-driving vehicles, with safety at its core. Under the legislation, any authorised self-driving vehicle must achieve a level of safety at least equivalent to that of a competent and careful human driver before it can be approved for use.

The government has announced that pilot self-driving passenger services, including taxi and shuttle-style vehicles, are expected to begin operating from 2026. These trials will help test the technology, regulatory systems and public acceptance of autonomous transport in real-world conditions. A wider rollout is then expected once the full regulatory framework comes into force from the second half of 2027.

For the foreseeable future, motorists should not expect privately owned cars capable of fully autonomous, hands-free and attention-free driving in all situations. Instead, self-driving technology is likely to be introduced gradually, beginning with approved vehicles operating in specific environments and under strict legal requirements.

What rules does a self-driving car follow?

The Department for Transport (DfT) currently permits driverless cars to be tested on UK roads providing they have a human driver on-board that has a manual override to take control of the car.

All vehicles must also be fitted with data-logging equipment in case of an accident and must follow the usual rules of the road, with the human drivers fully licensed and liable for any offences committed.

Can I drive an autonomous car now?

Government-backed trials of autonomous cars have taken place in Bristol, Coventry, Greenwich and Milton Keynes, while Volvo, Ford and Jaguar Land Rover have also conducted their own tests on UK roads.

Are driverless cars safe?

There have been several well-publicised crashes involving driverless vehicles, but statistically they remain much safer than conventional cars with a human behind the wheel.

A computer-controlled car doesn’t get tired, and it can’t be distracted by a mobile device, the radio, or kids fighting in the back seat.

It also sticks rigidly to the rules of the road, obeying speed limits and leaving a safe gap to the car in front.

The key concern with self-driving cars is around security. Cars, like any computer system, aren’t immune to hackers, and the prospect of your self-driving car being taken over remotely by a third-party is a terrifying one.

Biometric data, such as fingerprints or iris scans, is one option being looked at to prevent this.  

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Can you drink-drive in a driverless car?

As it stands, this is a definite no. The law says you must be in control of your car at all times, so the limits and penalties for drink-driving are exactly the same.

Whether this changes with the roll-out of autonomous vehicles remains to be seen, so for now it’s best to either steer clear of alcohol altogether, find a sober friend, or take a taxi.

Can you sleep in a driverless car?

Again, this is currently not allowed, particularly if you’re sleeping off a heavy night. However, that’s not to say that the laws around sleeping in driverless cars won’t change in the future.

Benefits of driverless cars in the future

Driverless cars and autonomous vehicles offer several potential benefits, which could be commonplace on UK roads in the future.

Improved road safety

By reducing human error, which is responsible for a significant number of accidents, AVs could lower traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities.

Increased mobility

Autonomous cars could provide greater independence for people who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to drive, improving their access to transportation.

Reduced traffic congestion

AVs could optimise traffic flow, adjust speeds, and communicate with other vehicles, potentially reducing traffic jams and the time spent in traffic.

Efficiency, environmental benefits and fuel savings

Self-driving cars could drive more efficiently than humans, with smoother acceleration, braking, and route planning, leading to reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions.

Reduced costs for car owners

Over time, self-driving cars may lead to fewer repairs and reduced costs associated with accidents.

Facts about driverless cars

Are there any fully autonomous cars you can buy today?

No. There are currently no fully autonomous (SAE Level 5) cars available for consumers to buy anywhere in the UK or around the world.

Modern vehicles marketed as "self-driving" still require some degree of human supervision.