UK government gives Automated Lane Keeping Systems the green light for use on motorways

Limited to speeds of up to 37mph on motorways, Automated Lane Keeping Systems in vehicles have been offered a route to their legal introduction on UK roads. The Department for Transport claimed that the technology could improve road safety by reducing human error, which contributes to over 85 per cent of accidents. "The driver will be able to hand control over to the vehicle, which will constantly monitor speed and keep a safe distance from other cars," it said. Self-driving technology in cars, buses, and delivery vehicles "could spark the beginning of the end of urban congestion, with traffic lights and vehicles speaking to each other to keep traffic flowing, reducing emissions and improving air quality in our towns and cities," DfT said. The technology could create around 38,000 new jobs in a UK industry that could be worth £42bn by 2035, the department added. Yet Whitehall's enthusiasm for the technology flies in the face of evidence that it is impractical, unsafe, and undesirable.