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Government regulatory review paves way for driverless cars

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Charlotte S Charlotte Fernández UKIMEA Press Office,Leeds
11 February 2015

UK Business Secretary Vince Cable and Transport Minister Claire Perry officially launched regulatory review and UK Government’s ‘Introducing Driverless Cars’ competition today.

UK Autodrive, one of the three successful projects in the competition, is a £19.2m, three year programme led by engineering and consultancy firm, Arup. The consortium - which includes forward thinking local authorities, the UK’s leading technology and automotive businesses and academic institutions - will develop autonomous vehicle technologies and integrate driverless vehicles into existing urban environment.

Representatives from UK Autodrive, Tim Armitage (Arup), Cllr Pete Marland (Milton Keynes Council Leader) and Mike Waters (Coventry City Council), joined Vince Cable and Claire Perry at today’s project launch and Government’s regulatory review.

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This Government review of regulations paves the way for the introduction of driverless vehicles on UK roads. UK Autodrive will make use of these changes to lead the development and adoption of autonomous driving technologies. The three year programme will demonstrate those autonomous technologies in the cities of Milton Keynes and Coventry, positioning the UK as a leader in this domain. ” Tim Armitage, Associate director Tim Armitage Arup’s UK Autodrive Project Director

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Driverless cars are the future. I want the UK to be open-minded and embrace a technology that could transform our roads and open up a brand new route for global investment. UK Autodrive is an excellent example of private-public collaboration and I wish the project every success. These trials will ensure Britain is at the forefront of driverless car technology and is able to use it to its full potential. ” Claire Perry Climate Change Minister

The partners in the ‘UK Autodrive’ consortium are Arup, Milton Keynes Council, Coventry Council, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford Motor Company, Tata Motors European Technical Centre, RDM Group, MIRA, Oxbotica, AXA, international law firm Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, the Transport Systems Catapult, Thales, the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and the Open University.

UK Autodrive is one of three projects launched by the Transport Minister and Business Secretary, which will see trials of driverless cars taking place this year in Greenwich, Milton Keynes, Coventry and Bristol. The trials will keep the UK at the forefront of this innovative new technology.