Fleets need to voice their concerns about the arrival of autonomous driving tech in a new official inquiry that could pave the way for their widespread use. 

Peter Golding, managing director at FleetCheck, said the investigation could be an important influencer on the creation of the legal infrastructure surrounding the use of self-driving cars

The Transport Select Committee opened the inquiry last week and will scrutinise the development and deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles ahead of the potential arrival of self-driving tech from next year.   

Peter Golding, managing director at FleetCheck, said the investigation could be an important influencer on the creation of the legal infrastructure surrounding their use. 

“We’ve already had the Law Commission look at this subject in some detail and this new inquiry should build on that work alongside other investigations into how autonomous technology might be used in the future.”  

And as the earliest potential adopters of autonomous technology, he added that fleets need to be a big part of this.   

“As almost certainly the main buyers and earliest adopters for vehicles with these kinds of capabilities, we should make sure that our voices are heard.”  

Golding said that fleet concerns were likely to fall into two parts – ensuring that such technology protects company drivers and other road users but also that it fits in with existing duty of care responsibilities.   

“Giving a third party control of a vehicle is a significant change in this area and not something that should be done lightly,” he stressed.  

The new inquiry will look at the development and deployment of self-driving vehicles, the progress of research and work in the UK and abroad, and what needs to happen to prepare for their arrival. This includes regulation, perceptions of safety, the role of government, implications for infrastructure and for existing car use.  

Golding continued: “I don’t think I am being controversial if I say that I hear quite a lot of scepticism among fleet operators about this technology and the temptation for manufacturers to push for its use before it is really ready.  

“Certainly, every commentary I have read on the subject in recent years contains the same message – that engineers have 90% solved the issue of self-driving but are having trouble with the last 10%. That would be too big a risk for any fleet.  

“The industry is relying on regulators – over whom the Select Committee should have an influence – to ensure that no vehicle makes it to market carrying tech that is not fully proven in real-world conditions.”  

The Transport Select Committee inquiry on self-driving cars is open for written evidence until Monday 22 August 2022. To access it, click here.