Under new Highway Code rules, motorists in self-driving cars will be able to watch television on a build-in screen whilst in the car under the latest shake-up to the code - however, using phones will still be banned.
The move, which has divided some, was announced as the Department for Transport (DfT) set out the new rules in a bid to help pave the way for more cars of its kind.
In the updates announced by the government, users of self-driving cars will also no longer be responsible for crashes and instead insurance companies rather will be liable for claims in circumstances where a crash has taken place.
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However the update will make it clear that motorists must be ready to take back control of vehicles when needed, reports Wales Online.
Despite the change, it will still remain illegal to use the phone behind the wheel of the car unless paying at a toll, a drive through or in an emergency where you cannot use the 'hands free' calling option.
These measures – which follow a public consultation – were described as an interim measure by the Government to support the early deployment of self-driving vehicles with a full regulatory framework expected to be in place by 2025.
At present there are said to be no vehicles approved for self-driving on Britain's roads however the first could be given the go-ahead as early as this year.
The DfT announced in April of last year that they would allow hands-free driving in vehicles with lane-keeping technology on congested motorways. However if drivers have existing technology such as cruise control and automatic stop/start, this is classified as "assistive" which means that road users must remain fully in control of the vehicle at all times.
In an update to the Highway Code, Transport minister Trudy Harrison said it's a "major milestone in our safe introduction of self-driving vehicles" which she claimed will "revolutionise the way we travel, making our future journeys greener, safer and more reliable."
She added: "This exciting technology is developing at pace right here in Great Britain and we’re ensuring we have strong foundations in place for drivers when it takes to our roads. In doing so, we can help improve travel for all while boosting economic growth across the nation and securing Britain’s place as a global science superpower."
It's said that the development of self-driving vehicles could create around 38,000 new jobs in the UK and be worth £41.7 billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT.
Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said driverless cars “promise a future where death and injury on our roads are cut significantly” but there is likely to be a “long period of transition” while drivers retain “much of the responsibility for what happens”.
He stressed the importance of changes to regulations being communicated to drivers adding "vehicle manufacturers and sellers will have a vital role to play in ensuring their customers fully appreciate the capabilities of the cars they buy and the rules that govern them."
