Cars with automated driving features could be on UK motorways later this year
Motorists could soon be enjoying motorway travel in cars equipped with automated driving technology, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.
Vehicles fitted with an Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) could be allowed to be used on UK highways in slow traffic for speeds of up to 37mph by the end of 2021.
The decision for this automated driving feature to be permitted follows a call for evidence launched by the Government last August to consider the safety of ALKS.
Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said “We must ensure that this exciting new tech is deployed safely, which is why we are consulting on what the rules to enable this should look like. In doing so, we can improve transport for all.”
A consultation on changes to The Highway Code has been launched to ensure automated driving systems are used safely and responsibly.
While the government has said the technology could improve road safety by reducing human error – which contributes to 85% of accidents –industry experts have questioned the technology’s capabilities.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said humans are “invariably the weak link” when it comes to safe driving, but warned there are “challenges” when journeys involve a transfer of control between technology and the person behind the wheel.
He added: “There is a risk of situations in which drivers over-rely on the automated system, expecting it to deal with events for which it is neither intended nor capable.
“And what happens when drivers are expected to take back control in an emergency? Research for us shows that it can take drivers several seconds to regain command of their vehicle.”
ALKS lets a driver effectively hand over control to the vehicle, to drive in a single lane while also monitoring speed and distance – but motorists must be ready to resume control if required.
- Driverless cars: the internet’s most Googled questions answered
- Driverless cars: a guide to current and future tech
- Autonomous Emergency Braking: what you need to know
Despite how the government presents ALKS, Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research points out the systems are not strictly automated, but are instead “assisted driving systems” due to their part reliance on the driver.
He said: “Aside from the lack of technical capabilities, by calling ALKS automated our concern also is that the UK Government is contributing to the confusion and frequent misuse of assisted driving systems that have unfortunately already led o many tragic deaths.
“A widespread and effective ongoing communications campaign led by the automotive industry and supported by insurers and safety organisations is essential if we are going to address current and future misconceptions and misuse.”
How do you feel about automated driving? Are you grateful for the support during slower traffic, or unsure about handing over control? Let us know in the comments.
Cheaper than AA Price Promise^
- Roadside cover from £5.29 a month*
- We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
- Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
*At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Roadside (Basic). ^T&Cs apply.
You might also like
Autonomous Emergency Braking: what you need to know
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is one of the biggest safety breakthroughs yet in the motoring industry. Learn more here about this important innovation.
Cattle grid sends cars off the road in Somerset after their emergency brake sensors mistake it for a wall
Somerset County Council has spent more than £70,000 redesigning a road in order to prevent cars from mistaking a cattle grid for a wall. Read more on RAC Drive.
Thatcham devices: what is a Thatcham Category alarm?
Find out what Thatcham category car alarms are including Thatcham Category 1 and 2 alarms and how they work for car security systems. Learn more with RAC Drive.
Driverless cars: a guide to current and future tech
Our guide to what driverless cars are, the autonomous features available today, and when we can expect full automated driving. Read our new tech guide here.
Driverless cars: the internet’s most Googled questions about autonomous vehicles answered
As the motoring world moves towards self-driving cars, how much do you know about these vehicles? When can you expect to see them on the British roads?
Popular in News
1
Car buyers to save thousands as EV grant returns
2
Private parking companies issue a record 14.4m tickets to drivers in a single year
3
Drivers fined £1m from just 36 yellow box junctions in 2024
4
Road deaths on the rise in Great Britain
5
Private parking industry urged to publish ‘full and transparent’ complaints and appeals data
6
Drivers now able to search for new home that comes with EV chargers
7
Leicester’s Sean Kimberlin named as RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year
8
Number of drivers caught using unroadworthy vehicles jumps by 52% in a year
9
Warning to drivers across the UK over fake parking apps
10