UK gives self-driving taxis the green light

The UK has officially opened the door to commercial self-driving passenger services, with the government publishing its response to the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme consultation and laying new regulations on Thursday (23 April).

This marks a significant milestone in the rollout of autonomous vehicles, creating a dedicated licensing route for passenger-carrying self-driving services, such as robotaxis and automated shuttles, to operate on public roads without a human driver.

In its release, government noted that safety will be non-negotiable. Automated passenger services must meet stringent safety standards before receiving a permit, with independent assessment, ongoing monitoring, and enforcement by authorities.

The framework, enabled by the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, establishes clear legal responsibilities for operators while protecting passengers, other road users, and vulnerable groups. A minor update to the regulations expands data sharing with emergency responders to improve incident response.

As services are introduced, safety will be independently assessed, monitored and enforced, giving the public confidence that these new services are operating responsibly, the government said.

Path to deployment

The government views self-driving technology as a major innovation that could transform transport by:

• Improving road safety;
• Widening access to mobility (particularly for disabled and older people);
• Supporting greener and more reliable journeys;
• Driving economic growth through investment and high-skilled jobs.

To ensure inclusivity, the Department for Transport is establishing an APS Accessibility Advisory Panel to advise on accessibility and develop guidance for services.

Local authorities will also play a role, particularly for taxi and private hire-like services, where their consent may be required.

Importantly, the APS scheme provides regulatory certainty for operators to invest and deploy services.

Companies like Waymo have already signalled interest in launching robotaxi services in cities such as London.

Commercial pilots with paying passengers and no safety driver are expected to begin in the coming months, with broader rollout anticipated in the following years.

Now read: Tube strikes to hit London next week – All the details