The distant driving of autos from abroad, equivalent to for the supply of rental vehicles, might be banned following a government-commissioned assessment.
The assessment was carried out by the Regulation Fee of England and Wales, which beneficial ministers regulate the know-how.
It’s at present used solely in managed environments, equivalent to farms and warehouses, however future purposes might search to increase its use within the UK to the supply of rental vehicles.
The know-how permits for autos to be managed remotely, probably in public areas. There’s at present no UK regulation for a driver to be within the automobile they’re controlling.
The fee mentioned “difficulties in enforcement” meant distant driving from abroad ought to be prohibited “till applicable worldwide agreements are in place”.
It advised ministers that distant driving in public ought to be allowed provided that corporations obtained particular permissions.
The assessment additionally said {that a} distant driver ought to be answerable for their actions in the identical manner as somebody sitting behind the wheel of a automobile, however there ought to be no legal responsibility for faults past their management, equivalent to connectivity failures.
Nicholas Paines KC, the general public regulation commissioner, mentioned: “Distant driving is an thrilling know-how, however earlier than we see remotely operated vehicles on UK roads we should tackle security considerations by sturdy regulation.
“Our recommendation concludes that within the speedy time period, the federal government would have the ability to tackle some gaps within the regulation round distant driving utilizing present powers, whereas additionally offering a path for corporations to make use of the know-how lawfully offered that their methods are protected.
“In the long term, it might arrange a full system of distant driving regulation. Laws should reply to different basic considerations round safety threats and legal responsibility within the occasion of an accident.
“Our recommendation paper units out a highway map for the way the federal government can tackle these issues, while additionally encouraging corporations to innovate.”
The transport minister Jesse Norman mentioned: “Distant driving is already being efficiently used off-road in a number of industries and has large potential to offer new companies and security options for highway autos.
“The federal government wants to make sure that security is on the forefront of the usage of any new know-how, and the division will fastidiously take into account the Regulation Fee’s suggestions.”
Final yr, the fee additionally beneficial that customers of self-driving vehicles ought to have immunity from a variety of motoring offences, together with harmful driving, dashing and leaping pink lights.
