The distant driving of autos from abroad, akin to for the supply of rental vehicles, may very well be banned following a government-commissioned evaluate.
The evaluate was carried out by the Regulation Fee of England and Wales, which really useful ministers regulate the expertise.
It’s at present used solely in managed environments, akin to farms and warehouses, however future functions might search to increase its use within the UK to the supply of rental vehicles.
The expertise permits for autos to be managed remotely, probably in public areas. There may be at present no UK legislation for a driver to be within the car they’re controlling.
The fee stated “difficulties in enforcement” meant distant driving from abroad needs to be prohibited “till applicable worldwide agreements are in place”.
It informed ministers that distant driving in public needs to be allowed provided that corporations obtained particular permissions.
The evaluate additionally said {that a} distant driver needs to be chargeable for their actions in the identical approach as somebody sitting behind the wheel of a car, however there needs to be no legal responsibility for faults past their management, akin to connectivity failures.
Nicholas Paines KC, the general public legislation commissioner, stated: “Distant driving is an thrilling expertise, however earlier than we see remotely operated vehicles on UK roads we should handle security issues by way of robust regulation.
“Our recommendation concludes that within the quick time period, the federal government would have the ability to handle some gaps within the legislation round distant driving utilizing current powers, whereas additionally offering a path for corporations to make use of the expertise lawfully offered that their techniques are protected.
“In the long term, it might arrange a full system of distant driving regulation. Rules should reply to different basic issues round safety threats and legal responsibility within the occasion of an accident.
“Our recommendation paper units out a street map for a way the federal government can handle these issues, while additionally encouraging corporations to innovate.”
The transport minister Jesse Norman stated: “Distant driving is already being efficiently used off-road in a number of industries and has big potential to offer new providers and security options for street autos.
“The federal government wants to make sure that security is on the forefront of using any new expertise, and the division will fastidiously contemplate the Regulation Fee’s suggestions.”
Final yr, the fee additionally really useful that customers of self-driving vehicles ought to have immunity from a variety of motoring offences, together with harmful driving, dashing and leaping crimson lights.
