The King’s Speech introduced autonomous vehicle legislation

The forthcoming Automated Vehicles Bill aims to update current laws, attributing liability to manufacturers for any mishaps when their vehicles are in autonomous mode, thereby exonerating individuals in the driver’s seat.

The proposed bill, which seeks to facilitate the certification of driverless vehicles by the Department for Transport, underscores the UK's commitment to leading the autonomous vehicle market. With a potential value of up to £42bn, this burgeoning industry promises to bolster the economy by generating 38,000 specialised jobs by 2035.

This legislative initiative targets the implementation of level four autonomous vehicles, which represent a high degree of automation without the need for a safety driver. The King's address in the House of Lords highlighted the government's strategy to ensure the "safe commercial development" of sectors at the forefront of innovation, such as autonomous vehicles and digital markets.

The rationale behind this progressive stance is the anticipated enhancement of road safety, with statistics indicating that human error plays a part in 88% of road accidents. The government anticipates that the clarity provided by the bill will catalyse research and investment throughout the UK.

Professor Paul Newman CBE, of the British driverless vehicle startup Oxa, welcomed the bill, citing its potential to clearly define "responsibilities and accountabilities" essential for the large-scale deployment of self-driving vehicles.

British Safety Council’s Chairman, Peter McGettrick said: “This speech showed a government seeking to create secure and safe conditions for the nation and its communities, as well as looking to the future in terms how the UK can become a global leader in new forms of technology, such as autonomous vehicles.

“The legislation announced by the King on autonomous vehicles should help to position the UK as a global leader in a technology which looks to revolutionise how we travel, deliver our goods, and farm. It will be vital that the Government addresses issues of liability, and wider questions about public health and safety of autonomous vehicles and how they work alongside other road users and pedestrians.”

In addition to the focus on autonomous vehicles, the King's speech covered the establishment of a regulatory framework for digital markets and the advancement of technological innovation, particularly in the realm of machine learning.

Moreover, the speech addressed the increasing challenges posed by technology-enabled crimes. Proposed legislation is set to enhance the capabilities of police forces and the criminal justice system to tackle sophisticated criminal activities such as digital-enabled crime and child sexual abuse.

As technology evolves, the King emphasised the UK's role in leading international dialogues to ensure the secure development of artificial intelligence, a sentiment echoed during the government's AI safety summit.

This legislative package marks a definitive step towards modernising the UK's transport infrastructure and digital economy, aligning with the nation's security interests, and setting a precedent for the responsible and innovative integration of AI into society.