STORY
Passengers could be able to book taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles later this year after the Government opened applications for operators to join a new pilot scheme. The Department for Transport said the trials would allow approved firms to run services on roads in Great Britain.
Ministers said the scheme could support older and disabled people, create skilled jobs and help develop the UK’s autonomous vehicle sector. Services will be subject to safety assessments, cyber-security checks and local consent from transport authorities before operating.
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood (in photo) said self-driving vehicles could expand independent travel and support economic growth. The pilots will be used to gather real-world evidence as ministers develop the regulations needed for wider deployment of the technology.