The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), has launched two consultations, collectively seeking to bring consistency and clarity relating to autonomous vehicles (AVs). CCAV is a joint unit between the Department for Transport and the Department for Business and Trade. The consultations include a call for evidence on the Statement of Safety Principles, and a draft statutory instrument (SI) on protecting marketing terms for AVs.
Following royal assent for the AV Act in May 2024, these publications mark significant milestones towards implementing the full regulatory framework in the second half of 2027. The implementation programme has been designed to maximise innovation, improve public safety and strengthen public confidence.
Road safety is at the heart of the legislation, with AVs expected to improve road safety by reducing human error, which contributes to 88% of road collisions.
The Statement of Safety Principles will consider the safety outcomes that should be sought by AVs. The call for evidence aims to gather insights on the implementation, description, and measurement of safety principles to ensure equality, fairness, and robust assurance for AVs. The Department for Transport’s monitoring and annual reporting will also consider performance against these principles.
The call for evidence closes on 1 September 2025: Automated vehicles: statement of safety principles - GOV.UK
In a move to reduce the risk of misleading marketing creating driver confusion or undermine AVs, the consultation aims to identify the words, expressions, symbols or marks that should only be used to describe authorised AVs. CCAV’s aim is for these regulations to come into effect in early 2026.
The Protecting Marketing Terms for AVs consultation closes on 1 September 2025: Automated vehicles: protecting marketing terms - GOV.UK
Alongside these publications, CCAV has announced the acceleration of Automated Passenger Services (APS) legislation to spring 2026, with the associated consultation taking place in summer 2025.
More information on the GOV.UK website: Driving innovation – 38,000 jobs on the horizon as pilots of self-driving vehicles fast-tracked.
Contact [email protected] if you would like to feed into the BVRLA's consultation responses.
