UK Automated Vehicles Act 2024: authorisation of self-driving vehicles, authorised self-driving entities, transition demands, safety information offences and marketing restrictions (Parts 1 and 4)
Once in force, a vehicle may be treated as self-driving only after the Secretary of State authorises it against a statement of safety principles, with a named authorised self-driving entity responsible for it, transition demands that give the user-in-charge time to take over and a safe outcome if they do not, and criminal offences for giving false or withholding safety information. From 7 January 2027 it will also be an offence to market a vehicle in a way likely to confuse end-users about whether it can drive itself.
Scope. Reaches a US company that seeks authorisation of a self-driving vehicle in Great Britain, acts as its authorised self-driving entity or no-user-in-charge operator, or markets a vehicle to end-users there.
Draft mapping. Drafted by the Register's agents from the rule's text and not yet confirmed by a person. It is the Register's reading, not legal advice: whether and how the rule applies to you is a question for counsel.
Controls this rule maps to
Required by the text The rule's text requires a measure that is this control, or plainly includes it. Implied A binding rule whose purpose needs this control, but whose text does not name it. The Register's reading. Recommended A voluntary standard or guidance recommends it; nothing binds you to it. Proposed Appears in a proposed rule or proposed provision that is not yet in force.
| Control | Strength | Where in the rule, and why | Confidence | Missing or failed in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent assurance before deployment C-O2 | Proposed | s. 2(2)(a) (prospective): principles framed so that 'authorised automated vehicles will achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or higher than, that of careful and competent human drivers'; s. 2(10): s. 3 power to authorise may not be exercised until the statement has effect. Not yet in force. | high | 1 case |
| Human takeover with a time window C-R3 | Proposed | s. 7(3)(b) (prospective): 'the transition period will be long enough for the user-in-charge to prepare to assume, and assume, control of the vehicle'. | high | 2 cases |
| Automated fail-safe C-R2 | Proposed | s. 7(3)(c) and (e) (prospective). | high | 2 cases |
| Warnings designed as alerts C-I4 | Proposed | s. 7(3)(a) and (d) (prospective). | medium | 4 cases |
| Reporting integrity C-V2 | Proposed | s. 24(1), (3), (4) (prospective): offences of false or misleading safety-relevant information, failure to provide it, and destroying, suppressing or altering it. | high | 1 case |
| Organizational recovery process C-R4 | Proposed | s. 39(1) (prospective): 'The Secretary of State must put in place arrangements ... for (a) identifying the occurrence of relevant incidents, (b) enquiring into the causes ... (c) deciding whether any of the enforcement powers should be exercised'. A duty on the regulator, not on the company; confidence lowered. | low | 1 case |
| Mandate disclosed to supervisor C-M1 | Proposed | s. 79(1)(e): communications 'likely to confuse end-users ... as to whether a vehicle that is not an authorised automated vehicle is capable of travelling autonomously'; Part 4 in force 7 January 2027 (S.I. 2026/731 reg. 2); s. 78 in force 1 January 2026 only for making regulations (S.I. 2025/1339 reg. 2(2)(a)). | medium | 1 case |
| Independent audit log C-V1 | Proposed | s. 14(1) (prospective): 'Authorisation requirements may include requirements as to the collection and sharing of information by an authorised self-driving entity'. | low | 1 case |