Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether companies conducting autonomous vehicle trials are required to publish incident and near-miss data; and if not, whether they plan to mandate this before commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Data related to incidents from automated vehicle trials with a safety driver would be captured under standard incident report that the Department for Transport regularly publishes. Companies wishing to apply to operate commercial pilots will have to comply with mandated reporting requirements. These reports will initially be submitted to the Department. The Department is considering approaches around the publication of this information.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether penalty points can be applied to a safety operator supervising an autonomous system when the vehicle commits an offence without manual input.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Whereas the drivers of normal road vehicles require driving licences, onto which penalty points may be endorsed if they commit relevant offences, this is not the case with operators of automated vehicles.

As set out in the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, a range of civil and criminal sanctions will be available to the in-use regulatory scheme to ensure that operators are held accountable for the behaviour of their vehicles, and for any failures to comply with regulatory requirements. Views are being sought on these sanctions as part of the continuing Call for Evidence, “Developing the Automated Vehicles Regulatory Framework”.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the readiness of autonomous taxi technology for public use.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Government intends to introduce the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme in Spring 2026 to provide a clear legal route to deploying passenger services, such as taxi-, private hire- and bus-like services, with no human driver, providing certainty for operators to enter the GB market. Both the service and the technology will be assessed before an APS permit is granted and the vehicle is listed as self-driving. These assessments will be undertaken by agencies of the department, on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of who has legal liability for traffic offences committed by autonomous vehicles.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 implements the recommendations of the 4-year review of regulation for automated vehicles carried out jointly by the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission (the Law Commissions). It is intended to set the legal framework for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles in Great Britain. Part 2 of the Act specifically relates to liability for vehicle use in a range of operational circumstances.

In addition, the continuing Call for Evidence “Developing the Automated Vehicles Regulatory Framework” asks a number of questions relating to the potential sanctions which may be available in response to traffic infractions involving Automated Vehicles.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to issue guidance to police forces on prosecuting companies operating autonomous vehicles for traffic contraventions.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Section 39 of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (“AV Act”) sets out the Secretary of State’s duty to identify and investigate incidents involving automated vehicles which have potential regulatory consequences. Chapter 2 of the continuing Call for Evidence, “Developing the Automated Vehicles Regulatory Framework”, seeks views on the most appropriate methods of detection and enforcement of relevant incidents, including traffic infractions.

In addition, guidance specifically relating to forthcoming pilots of automated vehicles, prior to the introduction of the full AV Act, is currently being drafted in conjunction with first responders.

Found: Technology Tuesday 3 March 2026 2 pm Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley

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