Government look at automated lane keeping systems

THE UK government has opened a consultation to find out is automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) could help to make the UK’s roads safer in the future.

The Department for Transport (DfT) says that the system would enable vehicles to control themselves for extended periods of time without driver intervention and has proposed allowing the use of the system at speeds of up to 70mph on UK roads. Some parties refer to the ALKS system as a traffic jam chauffer, in that it is able to take you onwards but not make decisions on where you should go. The system is classed as level 3 automation and could be seen on the UK roads as early as next year.

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The call for evidence will ask whether vehicles using this technology should be legally defined as an automated vehicle, which would mean the technology provider would be responsible for the safety of the vehicle when the system is engaged – rather than the driver. This consultation is effectively going to commit the systems and who is legally responsible for the vehicle when the ALKS is engaged in to law.

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said:

“Automated technology could make driving safer, smoother, and easier for motorists and the UK should be the first country to see these benefits, attracting manufacturers to develop and test new technologies.

“The UK’s work in this area is world-leading and the results from this call for evidence could be a significant step forward for this exciting technology.

“Following the approval of ALKS Regulation in June 2020 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) - of which the UK is a member – the technology is likely to be available in cars entering the UK market from spring 2021.”