More than three million people across the UK believe that people under the age of 16 should be able to “drive” autonomous vehicles when they are approved for UK roads.
A groundbreaking new survey has revealed that 3.3 million people – or seven per cent of Britons – think children should be able to get behind the wheel of a self-driving vehicle.
It comes after the UK passed the Automated Vehicles Act earlier this year, which outlined that self-driving vehicles could be seen on roads by 2026.
The new rules outline that self-driving vehicles will need to achieve a level of safety “at least as high as careful and competent human drivers”.
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Rigorous safety checks will also take place before being allowed out on roads, in the hope that deaths and injuries from drink driving, speeding, tiredness and inattention could be “drastically reduced”.
The data found that a further one in seven people who were surveyed would be in favour of Britons with visual impairments driving autonomous vehicles.
A further nine per cent also said they would be happy for people with no driving experience to sit behind the wheel of driverless vehicles.
Commenting on the data, Aidan Rushby, founder and CEO of Carmoola, said: “As we look toward a future of self-driving cars, we wanted to explore how comfortable Brits are with the idea of these cars operating on UK roads.
“While there is still hesitation among the public, the ongoing debate about who should be legally permitted to ‘drive’ an autonomous vehicle is intriguing.
“Even though full control isn’t required, the conversation around who can sit behind the wheel is far from settled.”
The Government has stated that the self-driving industry could be worth up to £42 billion and create 38,000 more skilled jobs by 2035.
Britons would also be happy for those who aren’t typically “fit to drive” – by the DVLA’s standards – manually-driven, or non-adapted cars, to operate self-driving cars.
This includes people with physical disabilities (20 per cent), those with severe epilepsy (11 per cent), as well as individuals with cognitive impairment or dementia (both 10 per cent).
Rushby added: “There are many rules yet to be defined – from the legal driving age to the qualifications of those allowed to operate these vehicles.
“With 2026 fast approaching, key questions remain; Will our roads be ready for self-driving cars? Will drivers adapt? And will more people than ever before take the wheel as a result?”
Former Transport Secretary Mark Harper said Britain was placing itself at the forefront of an “automotive revolution” with the passing of the AV Bill.
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Former Transport Secretary Mark Harper has been one of the biggest supporters of self-driving vehicles
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The UK has already been headstrong with its support for self-driving vehicles, having generated £475million in direct investment between 2018 and 2022, in addition to 1,500 new jobs.
Trials of self-driving vehicles have been seen across the UK in recent years, including Wayve and Oxa who have used the technology in London and Oxford.
