Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 3 April (HL6594), what requirements there are for UK drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel some or all of the time when semi-autonomous vehicle systems are engaged in vehicles with systems such as Tesla Autopilot.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The TESLA Model X and Model S have European Whole Vehicle Type Approvals (EWVTA) that were issued by the Netherlands. The UK is required to permit the registration and use of vehicles with EWVTA. The behaviour of the driver remains subject to national Traffic Law.
Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended) requires that the driver is in such a position that he can have proper control of the vehicle. Rule 160 of the Highway Code advises that a driver should drive with both hands on the wheel where possible.
New requirements that limit the time that a driver may remove their hands from the steering control in vehicles equipped with automated lane steering have recently been introduced into Type Approval. An optical warning is required if the driver removes their hands for more than 15 seconds and this is reinforced with an acoustic warning if the period exceeds 30 seconds. If the driver does not respond to the warnings the automated lane steering function will cease to operate 1 minute after the driver removed their hands from the steering control.
The Type Approval requirements apply to new vehicle types from 1 April 2018.
The UK is leading a UNECE Technical Committee that is developing Type Approval requirements for software that will include provisions to identify where the software has been updated. It is expected that these new measures will be implemented in Type Approval during 2019.
Type Approval records do not specifically identify individual features of the steering system and the Government does not hold data concerning the number of vehicles approved with automated lane steering functions either in the UK or in Europe.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 3 April (HL6594), whether (1) the Tesla Model X, and (2) the Tesla Model S, have received EU or UK approval covering the use of the Tesla Autopilot system on UK roads; and whether revisions of that system are subject to any Government or EU approval before being deployed to owners’ vehicles via manufacturers’ system updates.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The TESLA Model X and Model S have European Whole Vehicle Type Approvals (EWVTA) that were issued by the Netherlands. The UK is required to permit the registration and use of vehicles with EWVTA. The behaviour of the driver remains subject to national Traffic Law.
Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended) requires that the driver is in such a position that he can have proper control of the vehicle. Rule 160 of the Highway Code advises that a driver should drive with both hands on the wheel where possible.
New requirements that limit the time that a driver may remove their hands from the steering control in vehicles equipped with automated lane steering have recently been introduced into Type Approval. An optical warning is required if the driver removes their hands for more than 15 seconds and this is reinforced with an acoustic warning if the period exceeds 30 seconds. If the driver does not respond to the warnings the automated lane steering function will cease to operate 1 minute after the driver removed their hands from the steering control.
The Type Approval requirements apply to new vehicle types from 1 April 2018.
The UK is leading a UNECE Technical Committee that is developing Type Approval requirements for software that will include provisions to identify where the software has been updated. It is expected that these new measures will be implemented in Type Approval during 2019.
Type Approval records do not specifically identify individual features of the steering system and the Government does not hold data concerning the number of vehicles approved with automated lane steering functions either in the UK or in Europe.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 3 April (HL6592), how many collisions have been reported in the UK to date involving vehicles driven either autonomously or semi-autonomously.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government is not aware that any road traffic collisions involving automated vehicles on public roads have been reported, as per the requirement in road traffic law. Tests involving automated vehicles must comply with all UK traffic law, including the Road Traffic Act.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will list (1) all autonomous or semi-autonomous driving trials approved in the UK, and (2) any approved on public roads.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK’s Code of Practice provides guidance on testing automated vehicle technologies on public roads or in other public places in the UK.
The Government does not approve trials of automated vehicle technology that are carried out in line with the current UK Code of Practice. It is for manufacturers to ensure they are taking appropriate steps to ensure their trials comply with the law.
Information about the trials that are being co-funded by Government is available as a booklet entitled “UK Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Research and Development Projects 2017” online. A copy of the booklet is attached for ease of reference.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any autonomous or semi-autonomous driving trials have been approved for public roads in the UK, using purely optical cameras or radar, without LIDAR systems.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government does not approve trials of automated vehicle technology. As set out in the UK Code of Practice, developers can carry out trials if they are conducted in line with UK law. The Code does not specify what technology should or should not be used as part of a trial.
Around a dozen current publicly funded projects will be undertaking trials on automated vehicles up to 2021. The vehicles, in general, have a combination of sensor types, for example vision, radar, sonar and/or lidar, to suit the needs of the environmental conditions and use case. The Government does not stipulate what sensor suites projects should use. It is up to project partners to demonstrate what suite will safely deliver on road trials in line with current road traffic law, as highlighted in the UK Code of Practice.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there have been any injuries incurred during autonomous or semi-autonomous driving trials in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government is not aware of any UK trials involving automated vehicles that have resulted in injuries. There are already requirements to report collisions in current road traffic law, so developers must comply with those requirements.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence is required of the safety of autonomous or semi-autonomous driving systems before they are, or will be, approved for use in the UK; and what is the testing system in such cases.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK Code of Practice, published in July 2015, sets out that developers can carry out trials of automated vehicle technology if they are conducted in line with UK law. This includes having: 1) a safety driver (in or out of the vehicle) who is ready, able, and willing to resume control of the vehicle; 2) a roadworthy vehicle; and 3) appropriate insurance. The Code makes it clear that it is for developers to assure themselves that they are complying with the law and conducting trials safely.
The Government plans to update the Code of Practice in Summer 2018, to provide guidance to support true self-driving tests. We are working to develop an application process, with assessments being made on a case by case basis.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the regulatory and safety assessment process before autonomous or semi-autonomous driving trials can be permitted on public roads in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK Code of Practice, published in July 2015, sets out that developers can carry out trials of automated vehicle technology if they are conducted in line with UK law. This includes having: 1) a safety driver (in or out of the vehicle) who is ready, able, and willing to resume control of the vehicle; 2) a roadworthy vehicle; and 3) appropriate insurance. The Code makes it clear that it is for developers to assure themselves that they are complying with the law and conducting trials safely.
The Government plans to update the Code of Practice in Summer 2018, to provide guidance to support true self-driving tests. We are working to develop an application process, with assessments being made on a case by case basis.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the TESLA model 3 has received type approval in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Tesla Model 3 has not received type approval from the Vehicle Certification Agency, which is the UK’s Type Approval Authority.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the TESLA model 3 has undergone safety tests applicable for use in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Tesla Model 3 has not undergone any safety or environmental tests in the UK as would be required for the Vehicle Certification Agency to issue a European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA), or an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) certificate.
Testing could be undertaken by other EU Type Approval Authorities but the Department for Transport would only become aware of such testing when the type approval certificate is issued, or when the vehicle manufacturer seeks first registration in the UK.