The introduction of automated vehicles has the potential to transform transport in the UK, with proponents promising a wide array of benefits, however these are neither imminent nor inevitable. We need to ensure that there is a legal framework for Automated Vehicles that ensures the introduction of these will benefit society.  To do this, we also need to ensure that sufficient attention is paid to the professionals who design, build and operate the nations transport infrastructure. Therefore, CIHT are inviting your views to help inform our response to the Law Commission's consultation. 

Read CIHT's response to the Law Commission's first consultation response

The first consultation from The Law Commission was about regulation of 'users-in-charge vehicles', a term for vehicles that need to have someone in them who is qualified and able to drive and take over the vehicle if needed.

The second consultation is about vehicles, without a user-in-charge, that could drive around empty or only carry passengers such as public transport vehicles. The technical term given to these vehicles by The Law Commission is highly automated road passenger services (HARPS) and private-owned passenger-only vehicles. The consultation also seeks views on accessibility matters and road pricing.

In relation to HARPS, The Law Commission is looking especially at whether a new type of licence is required for those who run this type of service, e.g. public transport operators. Below are some questions that are being explored in relation to HARPS in this consultation:

• Making sure services are accessible for people with disabilities. There might also be rules about how services deal with complaints from passengers.
• Should the law say whose job it is to make sure vehicles are insured, repaired and safe to use. The Law Commission thinks it should. 
• Should the law say that operators of passenger-only services must know where their vehicles are and deal with any problems?
• Should operators of passenger-only services do all they can to keep passengers safe? This could include checking whether staff have a criminal record or how passengers behave in shared vehicles.

In relation to private-owned passenger-only vehicles these are some of the questions asked: 

• Should those making passenger-only vehicles available to the market be licensed as HARPS operators?
• Should the person who owns a passenger-only vehicle make sure it is insured, safe to use, report accidents and deal with any other problems. The Law Commission thinks they should.
• Owners will need to keep the technology up to date. The law could say they must get this help from someone who is licensed to do it.
• Because these vehicles are new it is difficult to say how much they will cost to repair and keep up to date. It might be cheaper to rent an automated vehicle than to buy one. Customers should have all the information they need to decide about this.

The Law Commission also seek views on how regulation can best promote the accessibility of Highly Automated Road Passenger Services (HARPS)? In particular, they are looking at the key benefits and concerns that regulation should address, such as extending the duties to land transport service providers to be extended to operators of HARPS and the challenge of delivering safe and accessible journeys in the absence of a driver. 

A full list of the consultation questions can be found in Chapter 9 of the full consultation paper. 

We hope to hear your thoughts on this consultation. Please contribute these by filling in the form below before Friday 10th January 2020. You can also e-mail the Policy and Technical Affairs Team at technical@ciht.org.uk.