The Government and carmakers must prioritise driver training on autonomous technologies amid warnings that self-driving vehicles will not eliminate crashes.

IAM RoadSmart says a lack of real-world testing and over-reliance on autonomous tech could lead to unsafe driving behaviours without further training

The Department for Transport revealed this month that autonomous cars could be on UK motorways by 2023 with a full rollout from 2025, under new plans for a ‘self-driving revolution’.

But road safety charity IAM RoadSmart says a lack of real-world testing and over-reliance on technology could lead to unsafe driving behaviours without further training.

And in evidence to a House of Commons Transport Committee Inquiry, it’s said that critical work is needed to make sure that autonomous vehicles do not negatively impact road safety or impose restrictions on drivers.

The main concern for road safety is the level of knowledge and experience of current UK motorists. Most road users currently have no direct experience of self-driving vehicle technology, and assumptions about the vehicles’ safety are not based on real-world testing on UK roads.

Research conducted by IAM RoadSmart, in collaboration with Southampton University, shows that there could be an over-reliance on self-driving technology, particularly when control is switched between the vehicle and the driver.  But its simulator studies clearly showed that coaching delivered safer drivers.

The charity has urged carmakers and government to educate drivers about the capabilities of the technology, to help them understand that they still must pay attention, and appreciate how different types of roads users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles, will interact with autonomous systems.

Neil Greig, policy and research director, said: “We support the Government’s intention to make the UK a world leader in driverless technology, but there is a critical need to train drivers in the new skills they will need to safely control increasingly autonomous cars. Research shows clearly that drivers who know what to expect if an autonomous car suddenly hands back control are better able to deal with the situation calmly and safely.

“It is vital that the Government works with the DVSA and training providers, such as IAM RoadSmart, to develop new resources to educate drivers.”

Greig added that people are “thankfully” moving away from the assumption that self-driving cars will remove the 90% of collisions allegedly caused by human error.

“With further research we can understand all the factors that may play a part in future collisions.”

IAM also said the new Road Safety Investigation Branch (RSIB), which was announced by the DfT in June, will go some way to addressing these concerns, and evaluating the safety performance of self-driving cars should be a top priority for the branch.

The independent RSIB will learn lessons from road collisions and autonomous technology, carrying out investigations, evaluating safety trends and ensuring road safety policy is fit for purpose.

Greig added: “We welcome the establishment of the RSIB, and its intent to monitor the impact of automation on road safety. It will be best placed to provide strategic insights, but investigations must be fully funded to ensure the right expertise is recruited and key findings can be shared.”