Could self-driving buses soon carry UK passengers?

The UK government has opened applications for operators to run self-driving bus, taxi, and private hire services in a new pilot scheme. The pilot is aimed at shaping future regulation for autonomous passenger vehicles.

The pilot invites operators in the bus, taxi, and private hire sectors to apply to run self-driving services. The government stated that the pilot is intended to inform future regulation. The announcement did not provide a specific timeline for the pilot or the number of vehicles to be deployed. Operators can submit applications for consideration.

The pilot covers multiple modes of transport, including buses, taxis, and private hire vehicles. The government seeks to gather data to develop rules for self-driving passenger services. The results of the pilot could influence the broader regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles in the country. The government has not released further details on the selection process or pilot duration. The pilot is described as 'new' and focuses on passenger transport applications of autonomous driving technology.