British lawmakers preparing for roads with autonomous cars
The British government is slowly preparing itself for the reality of roads with autonomous cars, as they have announced that they will begin working on making changes to their longstanding set of driving guidelines known as the Highway Code.
The changes made to the Highway Code are meant to serve two purposes: they will welcome the addition of advanced driver assisted and autonomous vehicles to the roads in Britain, and they will also look to insure autonomous vehicles while they are on the road.
Several of the current rules under the current Highway Code will need to be adjusted to introduce these new forms of transportation. Britain’s Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency is imploring the citizens to help with the changes to the Highway Code by making suggestions on rules, and the Department for Transport has also launched a nationwide consultation program to see how citizens feel about the inclusion of these new vehicles on their streets.
Via an article from Xinhua News, an unnamed spokesman for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency made this statement about Britain’s desire to modify its Highway Code:
"The government is determined that Britain leads the way globally in embracing the safe development of driverless technology. Advanced driver assistance systems and 'self-driving' technologies will transform travel helping deliver safer, smoother and smarter road journeys."
According to the same spokesman, cars using advanced assistance features are expected to be on sale Britain in the next two to four years, and autonomous cars are supposed to be on the road by at least the mid-2020s.
The Highway Code was first published in 1931. It is especially important for new drivers, but the rules in it apply to all pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists.
