Britain could lead the way for self-driving technology

British motorists could be permitted to use self-driving technology on motorways next year, as part of new proposals being looked at by the government.

Motor manufacturers hope to have the next generation of automated driving available for use as soon as 2021, with capability being upgraded from driver assistance to taking control of steering and speed once vehicles are in use.

The government could consider it being permitted for driving at speeds of up to 70 mph (112 km/h) in motorway slow lanes, although one of the issues that may delay it is the legal question of who could technically be defined as being responsible for a vehicle that is strictly speaking driving itself.

A consultation process on the matter, listening to the views of industry experts and the public, will run until Oct 27.

"The government is seeking views from industry on the role of the driver and proposed rules on the use of this system to pave the way towards introducing it safely in Great Britain, within the current legal framework," said a statement from the Department for Transport.

"The call for evidence will ask whether vehicles using this technology should be legally defined as an automated vehicle, which would mean the technology provider would be responsible for the safety of the vehicle when the system is engaged, rather than the driver."

The initial response from the motoring industry has been generally positive. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the innovation could turn out to be "life-changing".

He called the announcement "a welcome step in preparing the United Kingdom for its use, so we can be among the first to grasp the benefits of this road safety revolution", adding that, during the next decade, it could help prevent 47,000 serious accidents, and save an estimated 3,900 lives.

Edmund King, president of one of the country's largest motoring organisations, the AA, said the government was "right to be consulting on the latest collision-avoidance system, which has the potential to make our roads even safer in the future".

Not everyone is so confident, however. Jim Holder, editorial director of What Car? magazine said the technology used to stay in lanes was not yet sufficiently reliable, and there was still a question mark over the issue of legal liability.

"They're not necessarily at the point where you'd trust them enough," he said, talking about lane technology. "They work 90 percent of the time, but that's not enough … this is an industry under massive financial pressure. Why they would take on another huge insurance risk?"