Earlier this year, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced new rules were being introduced into the Highway Code about self-driving cars to ensure the technology is used safely and responsibly.
Fast forward to the beginning of this month and the new rules have now been officially introduced into the Highway Code – and Theory Test Pro.
The new rules state that:
- You can use a self-driving car’s built-in screens to, say, view a movie – yes, you read that right – so long as you are able to immediately resume control when your car prompts you to. Think when you’re approaching a motorway exit for example.
- You can’t be under the influence of alcohol or drugs as, just like with any vehicle, you must be fully aware at all times in case you need to take back control.
- You still can’t use a mobile phone in self-driving mode because research shows this is a distraction from the controls and screens that are built-in to the self-driving car.
While there are no self-driving cars currently available to buy, the DVSA is making sure that when they do become available, we already understand the rules on how to use them legally on our roads.
Coming soon
This could happen sooner than you think too with the first self-driving cars expected to appear next year. You can keep an eye on which ones qualify as self-driving by visiting the official page here.
In the meantime, head to Theory Test Pro’s Highway Code introduction here to read the full self-driving rules.
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Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash