The UK government must learn from the mistakes made in the United States when it comes to the rollout of autonomous vehicles, a leading expert has warned. Dr. Sam Hind, an academic at The University of Manchester, says the UK risks hitting a roadblock in its own efforts to introduce driverless cars, also known as robotaxis, if it does not heed lessons from the “bumpy rollout” of autonomous vehicles in California.
In an article published by the university’s policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester, Dr. Hind points to the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which was passed by the outgoing Conservative government in the UK. This act aims to pave the way for the potential introduction of autonomous vehicles, but Dr. Hind cautions that the UK must adopt a more cautious and well-regulated approach if it is to avoid the pitfalls that have affected the US market.
While autonomous vehicles have been tested in the US since 2020, the rollout has been far from smooth, according to Dr. Hind. One key example is Cruise, a robotaxi service operated by General Motors, which faced a significant setback in October 2023 when the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended its operations. This followed a road traffic incident involving one of Cruise’s autonomous vehicles. A pedestrian was struck by a human-driven car and later ended up underneath the Cruise robotaxi, triggering a suspension of the service.
The incident, alongside other high-profile cases, including the tragic death of Elaine Herzberg in 2018, killed by an autonomous Uber vehicle in Arizona, underlines the need for careful regulation, Dr. Hind argues.
Dr. Hind believes that the UK can avoid these issues by learning from California’s experience. In his research, he highlights the state’s public transport authorities, who have called for a more responsible, step-by-step approach to the deployment of robotaxis. This principle of “incrementalism” involves ensuring that robotaxi operators meet specific, standardised performance milestones before being granted approval to expand their services.
Dr. Hind criticises the lack of transparency from some US companies, including Cruise and Waymo (Google’s autonomous vehicle division), which were accused of withholding critical operational data, such as the frequency of unplanned stops or “vehicle retrieval events.” He stresses that the UK should take a similar approach to data transparency by requiring operators to submit such data, which would provide vital insights into the reliability and safety of their vehicles.
Among his recommendations for UK policymakers, Dr. Hind suggests that the regulation of autonomous vehicles should be handled by a single regulatory body, such as the recently announced Regulatory Innovation Office. This office could work closely with the Department of Transport to create a streamlined process that ensures safety without stifling innovation.
“The key to successful deployment in the UK lies in a collaborative, data-driven approach,” Dr. Hind concludes, urging policymakers to adopt a cautious but forward-thinking stance on autonomous vehicle regulation.