Government sets out next steps for implementing the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 as consultation on safety principles opens

The Government has issued an update on the implementation of the Automated Vehicles (AVs) Act 2024, alongside the launch of a consultation on the draft Statement of Safety Principles for automated vehicles. The consultation forms part of the statutory framework required to bring self‑driving technology into regulated use and sets out the principles that automated vehicles must meet before they can be authorised for deployment.

The draft principles outline expectations for whole‑life safety, including pre‑deployment assessment, in‑use monitoring and the ability to intervene if safety performance changes. The Department for Transport states that the principles are intended to provide a consistent basis for assessing whether an automated vehicle is safe to operate on public roads.

The Government has also invited the public to contribute views on self‑driving vehicle safety. The consultation seeks input from local authorities, industry, safety bodies and members of the public to inform the final version of the safety principles. This forms part of the wider programme to implement the AV Act, which also includes the national pilot scheme for automated passenger services.

The AV Act brings automated passenger services within a defined regulatory structure. Services that would require a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) licence if operated by a human driver remain within scope when automated. This ensures that automated taxi‑style and PHV‑style services cannot operate outside existing local licensing controls. The Government has confirmed that the permitting scheme for automated passenger services is intended to reflect the regulatory expectations that apply to current taxi and PHV operations.

The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has set out its position in its responses to the Government’s consultations on the AV regulatory framework and the permitting scheme. The IoL has emphasised the need for clear statutory local‑authority consent for any automated service that resembles a taxi or PHV operation, and for safeguards to ensure that automated services meet equivalent safety and accountability standards. The IoL has also highlighted the importance of maintaining the role of licensing authorities in decisions about automated services operating within their areas.