Government publishes new guidance to support self-driving vehicle pilot schemes

The government has released a suite of non‑statutory guidance documents designed to support the safe and effective deployment of self‑driving vehicle pilots on public roads and in public places. The publications aim to help prospective applicants, local authorities, transport bodies, and first responders understand their roles within the emerging self‑driving vehicle pilot framework.

The guidance forms part of wider preparations for the future regulatory system under the Automated Vehicles Act. Although the Act’s full framework is still being developed, officials say the new documents are intended to align with the direction of future legislation while enabling early learning from real‑world deployments.

Three guidance documents published

The guidance is now available on GOV.UK across three dedicated pages:

These documents set out the responsibilities of licensing authorities and traffic authorities when consulted on proposed automated passenger services. They also provide clarity on operational expectations, safety considerations, and the processes organisations must follow when seeking approval to run a pilot.

The Department for Transport emphasised that the pilot scheme represents a significant opportunity to test how self‑driving technologies operate in practice. Insights from these early deployments will inform future regulatory decisions and help refine the long‑term framework for automated passenger services.

Because the pilot process is novel, officials note that the guidance will remain under active review. Updates will be made as necessary to reflect lessons learned, emerging risks, and feedback from participating organisations.

The government has encouraged local authorities and transport bodies to review the guidance and consider how it may support their planning for automated passenger service permits. Officials also invited reflections from the Local Government Association (LGA) and member authorities to help shape future iterations of the guidance.

A spokesperson said the department “looks forward to continued engagement to help realise the societal and economic benefits of this technology,” highlighting the potential for self‑driving services to improve mobility, reduce congestion, and support innovation in local transport networks.