The Department for Transport has updated its code of practice for automated vehicle trialling, which no longer requires a safety driver to be present behind the wheel of the car during road tests.

Instead the document says that, during trials, it is a legal requirement to have a safety operator “ready and able to override the vehicle, though not necessarily within the vehicle”.

Government claims that the updated code of practice strengthens guidelines on trial safety and transparency. It also emphasises that advanced trials – for which a legal process is now being developed – will not be supported unless they have passed rigorous safety assessments.

The code requires that those carrying out trials will be expected to publish safety information, trial performance reports and to carry out risk assessments before conducting testing. Trialling organisations must also inform the relevant authorities, emergency services and anyone who might be affected by trial activity.

“We need to ensure we take the public with us as we move towards having self driving cars on our roads by 2021,” said Automotive Minister Richard Harrington. “The update to the code of practice will provide clearer guidance to those looking to carry out trials on public roads.”

The Transport Research Laboratory’s chief scientist Dr David Hynd welcomed the new code of practice as an important step towards a culture of open data sharing with regards to driverless car trials.

“This latest guidance from DfT is a welcome move toward a more transparent and open platform for connected and automated vehicle trials here in the UK,” he said.

Road safety organisation Brake’s director of campaigns Josh Harris said: “Connected and autonomous vehicles have huge potential to eliminate driver error and put an end to the daily tragedy of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. We support the leading role being played by Government on this important agenda for the future of safety and mobility.”

* Highways England is inviting proposals for innovative projects that could transform the way strategic roads are designed, managed and used with the launch of a £20M competition.

Entries will be welcomed until 8 May, with examples of projects potentially including roads which repair themselves, robotic construction methods and improved connections between different modes of transport.

(Photograph: UK Autodrive, Rui Vieira/PA Wire)