Mums and dads may not have to do the school run any longer due to a major change which may come into effect in 2025. Children could in the future hitch a lift to school in a self-driving car under new government proposals.
The government is giving out £100 million to fund research on making them safe. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The benefits of self-driving vehicles have the potential to be huge.”
New legislation includes £34m to be spent on safety developments and will allow the widespread roll-out of the vehicles by 2025. Mr Shapps said: “Not only can they improve people’s access to education and other vital services, but the industry itself can create tens of thousands of job opportunities throughout the country, Birmingham Live reports.
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“Most importantly, they’re expected to make our roads safer by reducing the dangers of driver error in road collisions. We want the UK to be at the forefront of developing and using this fantastic technology, and that is why we are investing millions in vital research into safety and setting the legislation to ensure we gain the full benefits that this technology promises.”
“It is still quite a big leap from assisted driving, where the driver is still in control, to self-driving, where the car takes control,” said Automobile Association president Edmund King. “It is important that the government does study how these vehicles would interact with other road users on different roads and changing weather conditions.
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