The distant driving of automobiles from abroad, equivalent to for the supply of rental automobiles, may very well be banned following a government-commissioned overview.
The overview was carried out by the Regulation Fee of England and Wales, which really useful ministers regulate the know-how.
It’s presently 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 automobiles.
The know-how permits for automobiles to be managed remotely, doubtlessly in public areas. There may be presently no UK regulation for a driver to be within the car they’re controlling.
The fee stated “difficulties in enforcement” meant distant driving from abroad needs to be prohibited “till acceptable worldwide agreements are in place”.
It informed ministers that distant driving in public needs to be allowed provided that corporations obtained particular permissions.
The overview additionally said {that a} distant driver needs to be chargeable for their actions in the identical manner as somebody sitting behind the wheel of a car, however there needs to be no legal responsibility for faults past their management, equivalent to connectivity failures.
Nicholas Paines KC, the general public regulation commissioner, stated: “Distant driving is an thrilling know-how, however earlier than we see remotely operated automobiles on UK roads we should tackle security issues by means of sturdy regulation.
“Our recommendation concludes that within the rapid 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 programs are protected.
“In the long term, it might 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 a way the federal government can tackle these issues, while additionally encouraging corporations to innovate.”
The transport minister Jesse Norman stated: “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 street automobiles.
“The federal government wants to make sure that security is on the forefront of using any new know-how, and the division will rigorously take into account 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, rushing and leaping purple lights.