June 2021

T he recent announcement from the Department for Transport permitting vehicles fitted with Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) is being hailed as a game- changer. By allowing vehicles equipped with these systems on UK roads, we could be one-step closer to self-driving cars. However, while ALKS will control the position of a vehicle in a single lane up to 37 miles per hour, above that, control reverts to the driver. It is a small step in autonomy terms, as the driver could not fully secede control to the system even below that speed anyway. It is significant from both the legal and technical standpoints though. Looking at the specific impact this could have on garages, with many still getting to grips with ADAS, do we think the sector is ready? Major step Commenting on the decision to allow vehicles fitted with ALKS on UK roads, Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said: “This is a major step for the safe use of self-driving vehicles in the UK, making future journeys greener, easier and more reliable while also helping the nation to build back better. But we must ensure that this exciting new tech is deployed safely, which is why we are consulting on what the rules to enable this should look like. In doing so, we can improve transport for all, securing the UK’s place as a global science superpower.” Following a call for evidence on the subject, the government set out how vehicles fitted with ALKS could officially be classified as self-driving, with the proviso that they get GB Type Approval. There would also have to be no evidence to challenge the vehicle’s ability to self-drive. A consultation on The Highway Code rules in relation to the self-driving cars was also carried out, which ended on 28 May. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes observed: “The automotive industry welcomes this vital step to permit the use of automated vehicles on UK roads, which will put Britain in the vanguard of road safety and automotive technology. Automated driving systems could prevent 47,000 serious accidents and save 3,900 lives over the next decade through their ability to reduce the single largest cause of road accidents; human error. “Technologies such as ALKS will pave the way for higher levels of automation in future, and these advances will unleash Britain’s potential to be a world leader in the development and use of these technologies, creating essential jobs while ensuring our roads remain among the safest on the planet. The UK is already a world leader in connected and self-driving vehicle innovation, and British companies are working on and developing the next generations of automated vehicles.” Confusion Despite the hyperbole, Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) urged caution over how these systems are viewed, as driver input is still absolutely essential. Matthew Avery, Director of Research at Thatcham Research, observed: “There is still a lot of work needed by both legislators and the automotive industry before any vehicle can be classed as automated and allowed safely on to the UK roads. ALKS as currently proposed by the government are not automated. They are assisted driving systems as they rely on the driver to take back control. Aside from the lack of technical capabilities, by calling ALKS automated our concern also is that the UK government is contributing to the confusion and frequent misuse of assisted driving systems that have 8 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2021 BIG ISSUE www.aftermarketonline.net SELF-DRIVING CARS: THE TIME IS NOW? Vehicles that seem to offer a degree of autonomy will legally be permitted on UK roads later this year. Is the garage sector ready for ALKS?