The Automated Vehicles (AV) Act became law on 20 May 2024, after receiving Royal Assent. The Act introduces a framework for the regulation of AVs in the hope of boosting the UKs AV sector while supporting safe deployment.

Self-driving trials have already taken place across the UK, with British companies Wayve and Oxa trialling cars in London and Oxford.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has said the legislation could result in self-driving vehicles being rolled out onto British roads within two years. However, some have expressed scepticism that the technology in the UK is ready. Transport expert John Challen has previously suggested that fully autonomous, self-driving vehicles are unlikely anytime soon because the technology is not ready.

The Act follows a four-year review carried out by the Law Commissions of England & Wales and Scotland which produced recommendations that formed the basis of the Automated Vehicles Bill. The Law Commission’s report describes an AV as a vehicle that is designed to be capable of driving itself.

In the report, CIHT's evidence is cited, noting that 'CIHT would recommend that objective criteria e.g. vehicles miles driven (in real world and through simulated testing) would be beneficial in addition to a measure of how a self driving test would pass a human driving test.' and 'CIHT prefers a regulatory approach as opposed to a standards approach, as standards can be used and interpreted in a variety of ways, whereas regulation aims to ensure compliance with specific requirements.' The Act establishes the key principles of AV regulation, laying the foundation for secondary legislation to be introduced in the coming years which will establish further regulations.

According to DfT, road safety is ‘at the heart of the legislation,’ with AVs having the potential to improve road safety by reducing human error. Ensuring everyone has the opportunity to travel safely and feels safe is one the of the strategic objectives of CIHT's manifesto, 'A transport network fit for all our futures.' It is important that as AV technology develops and secondary legislation is introduced, the regulatory framework continues to prioritise road safety. 

One piece of secondary legislation on the agenda would include digitising traffic regulation orders (TROs). In the House of Lords, on behalf of DfT, Lord Davies commented that they planned to consult on digitising TROs in Autumn with a view to introducing legislation in Spring 2025. As well as supporting AVs, this could be an important building block for future congestion charging schemes or other forms of charging for road use. CIHT’s Charging for Road Use White Paper argues that a digital map of the network will be a fundamental requirement for any future large scale charging scheme.

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