1. How will they work

Firstly, let’s consider what these driverless vehicle solutions look like. There are, of course, different and exciting ideas coming out from technology companies around the globe, but some of the key features remain universal. For one, the driving duties of the majority of these vehicles lie in the metaphorical hands of an AI. These artificial intelligences are being programmed to observe their surroundings through cameras and sensors, to control all elements of the vehicle that a human driver would, and to constantly be making the hundreds of tiny decisions and calculations that any good driver makes when behind the wheel. Many modern cars already utilise smart technologies not too dissimilar to this – think of lane control features, ‘self-parking’ cars, auto-lights – so in some ways, drivers have slowly been handing responsibility over to their vehicles already. To ensure safety of passengers and pedestrians, these AI will all need to meet very high standards, which may mean that the driving technology available in different models is actually very similar.

As a mechanism, AI opens up a lot of potential for individuals with mobility challenges and disabilities, particularly those whose conditions prevent them from driving standard vehicles currently. There are legal implications in these circumstances, however, as the law would need to allow for people without a driving licence to be in control of an autonomous vehicle. Phillip Hammond has stated that UK law will allow for driverless cars to be in use on roads around the country from 2021, but this would be for vehicles under the guidance of a qualified driver. It’s certainly expected that these regulations will evolve in line with the technology, allowing for non-drivers to be the sole passenger of an autonomous car, but this will take longer. However, when this does happen, it will be a huge positive for those who otherwise have to rely on others. This benefit could be particularly felt by those who live in rural areas where public transport is not as easily accessible, whether the user owns their own autonomous vehicle, or perhaps they could arrange a driverless taxi.