UK call for evidence on self-driving safety and access

You can help shape how self-driving vehicles roll out in Great Britain. Today, 4 December 2025, the UK government opened a call for evidence on the rules for safe deployment, with a clear focus on safety and better access for disabled people and older adults.

If you are new to policy, a call for evidence is an early step where officials invite real-world experiences, data and ideas before drafting detailed rules. It is not yet a formal consultation. The Department for Transport says a fuller consultation will follow in the second half of 2026, and the aim is to have regulations in force from the second half of 2027.

The legal backdrop is the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which creates the system for authorising self-driving services in Great Britain and places responsibilities on the companies operating them. GOV.UK explains that the framework is intended to improve road safety and make essential services easier to reach for disabled people, older people and others who face mobility barriers.

Ministers frame this as practical change as well as public safety. Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood says the goal is more independent travel for people who need it, safer journeys for everyone, and high-skill jobs across the UK, with services starting to appear from next year and expanding as the framework beds in.

There is an economic story too. Government estimates suggest the sector could support up to 38,000 jobs and be worth as much as £42 billion to the UK economy by 2035. Here is a media literacy note as you read those claims. These are projections, not guarantees, so it is fair to ask who produced them, which assumptions they rely on and whether an independent body has checked them.

The call asks for views on how strong safety features can be built into vehicles and kept current as technology changes. It also explores which organisations can run services and how they are licensed, how incidents are investigated and reported, and the cybersecurity standards needed to protect vehicles from international threats.

Trials are already under way under today’s code of practice. Milton Keynes Council has approved plans to extend self-driving shuttle trials in the city centre, and at Heathrow Airport a DHL and Oxa project has tested autonomous vehicles moving baggage between terminals. These offer practical lessons about reliability and inclusion before any national roll-out.

A passenger piloting scheme will start in spring 2026 to gather more evidence. People will be able to try services on selected routes so researchers and regulators can study the experience in real traffic, not only in labs or simulations. Evidence from these pilots will feed directly into the rules government drafts.

Taking part is straightforward. Visit the call for evidence page on GOV.UK and follow the instructions to submit your response. You do not need to be an expert. Explain what would make you feel safe, what would make a service usable for you, and what you would want to happen if something goes wrong. If you need an alternative format or reasonable adjustments, use the contact details on the page to request them.

Accessibility sits at the centre of the conversation. Campaigners at Transport for All welcome the chance for disabled people’s voices and lived experience to shape the framework from the start. That means thinking about boarding and alighting, space for mobility aids, clear audio-visual information, and booking and payment that work for people with different needs.

Industry emphasises safety as well. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders argues that close work between government, companies and other stakeholders is essential to build public confidence, especially in busy urban areas where streets are complex and unpredictable.

Here is the timeline as set out on GOV.UK. Evidence gathering began on 4 December 2025. A full consultation is planned for the second half of 2026 once a draft regulatory framework exists. The government wants the new rules in place from the second half of 2027, with testing and pilots continuing along the way.

You may also see company announcements in the news. Waymo has signalled an intention to bring a self-driving hail-a-ride service to London. Those plans show momentum, but they do not replace the need for clear, inclusive rules that work for everyday journeys to school, college, work and care.

If you are a teacher or student, you can turn this into a quick civic exercise. Read the GOV.UK questions as a group, gather local experiences about buses, taxis and step-free routes, and draft a short evidence note together. Keep copies so you can compare what is promised now with what appears in the 2026 consultation and, later, in the 2027 regulations.

When you write your response, be specific. Describe the kerbside design that helps you board safely, the audio-visual cues you rely on, and how a service should work for people without smartphones or bank cards. Real examples from lived experience are valuable evidence for officials reading hundreds of responses.

Innovation should serve people. Celebrate what self-driving might make easier, and keep asking who benefits, who carries the risk and who might be left out. Add your voice while the framework is still being shaped, and keep engaged as the policy moves from evidence to law.