The distant driving of autos from abroad, equivalent to for the supply of rental automobiles, may very well be banned following a government-commissioned evaluation.
The evaluation was carried out by the Regulation Fee of England and Wales, which really useful ministers regulate the know-how.
It’s at the moment used solely in managed environments, equivalent to farms and warehouses, however future functions may search to increase its use within the UK to the supply of rental automobiles.
The know-how permits for autos to be managed remotely, doubtlessly in public areas. There may be at the moment no UK legislation for a driver to be within the automobile they’re controlling.
The fee mentioned “difficulties in enforcement” meant distant driving from abroad needs to be prohibited “till applicable worldwide agreements are in place”.
It informed ministers that distant driving in public needs to be allowed provided that corporations obtained particular permissions.
The evaluation additionally acknowledged {that a} distant driver needs to be chargeable for their actions in the identical manner as somebody sitting behind the wheel of a automobile, however there needs to be no legal responsibility for faults past their management, equivalent to connectivity failures.
Nicholas Paines KC, the general public legislation commissioner, mentioned: “Distant driving is an thrilling know-how, however earlier than we see remotely operated automobiles on UK roads we should deal with security issues by robust regulation.
“Our recommendation concludes that within the rapid time period, the federal government would have the ability to deal with some gaps within the legislation round distant driving utilizing current powers, whereas additionally offering a path for corporations to make use of the know-how lawfully supplied that their programs are protected.
“In the long term, it may arrange a full system of distant driving regulation. Rules should reply to different basic issues round safety threats and legal responsibility within the occasion of an accident.
“Our recommendation paper units out a street map for the way the federal government can deal with 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 supply new providers and security options for street 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 contemplate the Regulation Fee’s suggestions.”
Final yr, the fee additionally really useful that customers of self-driving automobiles ought to have immunity from a variety of motoring offences, together with harmful driving, dashing and leaping crimson lights.