Bridging a significant public trust gap will be essential if automated vehicles (AVs) are to achieve widespread adoption on UK roads.

These are the conclusions of Thatcham Research, as the Government moves forward with plans to introduce self-driving technology later this decade.

The case for their safe use and improvements to road safety in general needs to be made in the public arena.

Behind the wheel

The insurance industry-funded automotive risk and safety organisation has welcomed the Government’s latest progress update on the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, including the launch of a consultation on a draft Statement of Safety Principles.

However, it warns that regulation alone will not guarantee public acceptance.

Research conducted by Thatcham Research in partnership with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) highlights both the opportunities and challenges facing the emerging technology.

While 67% of UK drivers believe the biggest potential benefit of automated vehicles is reducing crashes by removing human error, a majority of motorists remain cautious about embracing the technology themselves.

The study found that 58% of drivers would prefer to wait for automated vehicle technology to mature and prove itself before purchasing a fully self-driving vehicle, underscoring concerns about safety, reliability, and accountability.

On the move

The findings come as the UK Government develops the regulatory framework that will allow fully automated vehicles to operate legally on British roads.

Under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, self-driving vehicles will be required to achieve a level of safety at least equivalent to that of a competent and careful human driver before being authorised for use.

Advocates of automation point to the potential for substantial road safety benefits.

Human error is a contributory factor in the overwhelming majority of road collisions, and automated driving systems have the potential to reduce incidents caused by distraction, fatigue, impairment and poor decision-making.

Winning the argument

However, according to Tom Leggett, Vehicle Technology Manager at Thatcham Research, the promise of safer roads will only be realised if the public has confidence in the technology and the standards used to assess it.

“The government’s work on safety principles is a critical step because it begins to define what ‘safe’ looks like in practice,” said Leggett.

“But those principles must translate into clear, measurable standards that everyone can understand.

“Today, there is no universally agreed definition of a ‘careful and competent driver’. Safety performance can vary significantly depending on how and where it is measured, making like-for-like comparison difficult.”

Leggett believes that transparency will be central to building confidence among consumers, insurers and fleet operators.

“That challenge is compounded by the data itself, and importantly, who owns it,” he said. “If safety claims are not independently verifiable, it becomes harder to build confidence in the technology.

“If safety is the promise of automated vehicles, transparency is what will build trust. That means consistent ways to compare performance, and the data to back it up.”

Reality rating

The issue of vehicle data is expected to become increasingly important as automated systems move from testing environments to real-world deployment.

Thatcham argues that independent access to safety and incident data will be essential for assessing vehicle performance, determining liability and supporting insurance claims.

Under the Automated Vehicles Act, a full-lifecycle safety model will be introduced, allowing regulators to assess vehicles before deployment and to continue monitoring their performance after they enter service.

Leggett welcomed this approach, arguing that safety oversight must continue throughout a vehicle’s operational life.

“Safety should not be seen as a one-off approval process, but an aspect of automated vehicle adoption which requires ongoing assessment in addition to the open sharing of incident data and real-world safety evaluation,” he said.

He also highlighted the importance of vehicle data for the insurance sector, adding: “Government have reassuringly referenced how the Statement of Safety Principles can support insurance frameworks and how they rely on clear definitions of acceptable risk levels of these vehicles.

“This process will also be dependent on reliable access to automated vehicle data, including that generated by collisions.”

Proof and puddings

As policymakers, manufacturers and insurers prepare for the arrival of automated vehicles, Thatcham Research believes public confidence will be every bit as important as technological capability.

While motorists clearly recognise the potential safety benefits of self-driving technology, winning their trust through transparent standards, independently verifiable data and ongoing safety oversight may ultimately determine how quickly the technology gains acceptance on UK roads.

The introduction of self-driving taxis in London over the next few weeks by Wayve will be an important testing ground for public opinion, real-world experience, and the true safety and economic benefits for the public.