UK Could Have Self-Driving Cars in 2026
Self-driving cars could be used on some roads in the UK by 2026, according to the British Transport Secretary.
Mark Harper said people in the UK could be moving around in vehicles that are totally autonomous in 2026.
He said the vehicles could improve safety on the roads and allow more people with disabilities to use cars independently.
At the moment, self-driving cars are used in some parts of some countries, including the US and China, but they have been linked to a number of accidents in recent years.
Two American companies — Cruise and Tesla — had problems with their self-driving cars in 2023. They both had to make changes to their vehicles during the year for safety reasons.
But Harper said that with the right technology, self-driving vehicles could make the roads safer for drivers, passengers and other road users.
He said he had seen the cars being used in California and believed that people in the UK could soon be writing emails while in the driver's seat.
The UK still needs to make some new laws to allow these vehicles to be used, however.
But Harper added that these vehicles would mean people with disabilities that stopped them from driving cars would be able to do so.
However, not everyone likes the idea of self-driving cars.
In a YouGov survey done in March 2023, 42% of people across the world said they were worried about these vehicles — although 47% said they were not.
However, some say the price of self-driving cars will mean that only a small number of people will be able to buy them.
