Thatcham Research has welcomed the imminent assent of the landmark Automated Vehicles Bill – but warned that some insurance questions on liability and cybersecurity remain unanswered.

The SMMT says autonomous vehicles could save an additional 3,200 lives and prevent 53,000 serious accidents, from now until 2040

The Automated Vehicles Bill was announced in the King’s Speech in November 2023 and will implement the recommendations of the four-year review carried out by the Law Commissions of England & Wales and Scotland to set the legal framework for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles across Great Britain.

The safety framework will ensure clear liability for the user, set the safety threshold for legal self-driving and establish an in-use regulatory scheme to monitor the ongoing safety of these vehicles.

The bill has now passed through both houses of Parliament and awaits the final stage of Royal Assent when it will become law.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), autonomous vehicles, which reduce the risk of human error, could save an additional 3,200 lives and prevent 53,000 serious accidents, from now until 2040, while providing a £38bn economic boost to the UK.

However, a report from Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers details requirements for the adoption of automated vehicles (AVs) in the UK.

Their ‘Insurer Requirements for Automated Vehicles’ report sets out four key asks from the UK motor insurance industry required for AVs to be safe and insurable in the UK:

Safety First – Automated vehicles should have clearly defined capability and operational constraints so users understand their role and responsibilities when using an AV.

Visibility – Transparency of an AV’s authorisation process when driving, its level of functionality, and software authorised for road use.

Data Access – To ensure that consumers are protected, and insurers can fulfil their obligations as per the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (AEVA 2018), timely and unhindered access to data is required.

Cyber security – Vehicle systems and connectivity, either by the vehicle manufacturer or other source, must be robust to detect and mitigate the risk of a cyber-induced incident.

Tom Leggett, vehicle technology manager at Thatcham Research, said: “Thatcham Research is ready to support the Government in the development of regulations and further legislation which can address and resolve these outstanding barriers to widespread adoption.

“Automated vehicles represent an exciting future for the UK automotive sector, but only if we can ensure there is suitable legislation and guidelines to protect drivers and insurers.”

To access the full report, please visit the Thatcham Research website.

IMI urges government to urgently understand aftermarket skills requirement

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has also called for further action once the new bill passes into law.

The IMI, the professional body representing the interests of those working in the automotive sector, says it believes there is still work to be done to ensure the funding is available for the upskilling required to work on and calibrate automated vehicles for safe use.

The IMI’s latest data shows that at the end of March 2024 there were 4,150 technicians qualified to work on vehicles with level 2 autonomy, representing just 2% of all UK technicians. Level 2 autonomy is the pre-cursor to fully automated vehicles and currently 12% of the UK car parc features some form of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Therefore, even before fully automated vehicles become available, it says there is a serious road safety risk.

Hayley Pells, policy lead at the IMI, said: “The Automated Vehicles Bill 2024 addresses the liability issues of automated vehicles for manufacturers and insurers and provides a positive pathway for the introduction of this new form of mobility that could be empowering for so many. Clearly this is just the first step, and the IMI is keen to ensure that future legislation also takes into account the skills that will be crucial in the aftermarket for safe use of automated vehicles.”

She continued: “We expect half of the vehicles on the road to feature ADAS as soon as 2032, but at the current rate of certification, this will represent a significant and dangerous skills gap for the industry. And that’s even before we think about the introduction of fully automated vehicles.

“Failure to maintain and update these high-tech systems, many of which are designed to keep road users safe, really could be a matter of life and death. To ensure checks are carried out accurately, we desperately need more technicians to be trained to work on vehicles with this technology. We are therefore urging government and policymakers to ensure there’s the funding and infrastructure to support the essential upskilling.”