The latest call for evidence
Last December, as part of the implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, the Department for Transport issued 'developing the automated vehicles regulatory framework', the fourth call for evidence on implementing the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 since last summer. Unlike previous requests for stakeholder input, this one addresses a number of issues. DfT asked for views on many aspects of the automated vehicles regulatory framework, including:
- Type approval;
- Authorisation, user-in-charge and transition demands;
- No-user-in-charge operator licensing;
- Insurance;
- Data collection;
- Cyber security;
- In-use regulation;
- Monetary penalties; and
- Incident investigation.
Our response
The call for evidence closed on 5 March. In our response, we highlighted several points, including:
- The development and deployment of automated vehicles must be guided by a safety‑first principle.
- As the government drafts the regulations needed to implement the Automated Vehicles Act, maintaining this focus on safety is essential - even where regulations introduce significant costs. Early investment in robust safety standards will build public trust and reduce long‑term costs.
- Real‑world data from initial AV deployment will allow regulatory requirements to be safely re-examined over time, whereas tightening rules only after incidents would damage public confidence and increase costs for compensators and public services.
Our full response can be found here.
What's next
The government will publish a summary of responses with its own response in due course. The information collected as part of this exercise will be used to underpin the drafting of the regulations that will be required prior to allowing privately owned AVs on the UK's roads.
