Self-driving vehicles may soon be seen on roads in the UK by the end of this year following a significant licensing reform announced by the government. Under the new program, passengers will have the ability to request a self-driving vehicle similar to ordering a traditional taxi, with expectations that this initiative will generate substantial economic benefits for the country in the coming decade.

The Department for Transport, now accepting applications from operators, highlighted the potential of autonomous cars to enhance mobility for elderly and disabled individuals while reducing road accidents, predominantly caused by human errors accounting for 88% of collisions in the UK. According to Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood, self-driving vehicles present a revolutionary opportunity for the UK, offering independent travel options for those with disabilities and older citizens, as well as fostering growth and creating skilled employment opportunities nationwide.

The upcoming launch represents the next phase in the trial program for self-driving vehicles, with all services subject to rigorous safety evaluations to safeguard against cyber threats and security breaches. Local transport authorities will also need to grant “local consent” to ensure services align with regional needs.

Waymo, a US tech company, initiated testing of self-driving cars in London toward the end of last year, with all vehicles currently operated by a trained driver as a safety precaution. Notably, the vehicles are not yet carrying passengers during the testing phase.

However, the pilot program has encountered some controversy, such as an incident where a vehicle breached a live police cordon in Harlesden. Waymo clarified that the vehicle was under manual control with a validation driver and announced the suspension of the driver pending an investigation. Additionally, after facing criticism for causing disturbances in Spitalfields due to repeated navigation issues, Waymo pledged to restrict its vehicles from entering certain areas during testing.

Among the companies expressing interest in introducing self-driving cars in the UK are Wayve, a London-based startup, and Chinese tech giant Baidu, which partnered with Uber last year to explore autonomous vehicle solutions.