The UK future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood has launched a consultation on the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme and the draft statutory instrument.
APS is a core component of the Automated Vehicles Act, which will regulate taxi-, private-hire- and bus-like self-driving vehicles once it is implemented in full in the second half of 2027.
The consultation follows the recent government decision to fast-track pilots of self-driving passenger vehicles to Spring 2026.
DfT stated that through the consultation, representative groups, industry stakeholders, trade unions and members of the public will be able to make their views heard and influence future government policy.
These include:
- How self-driving vehicles can be made as accessible as possible for disabled and older people
- How services of self-driving vehicles are approved by councils
- When a permit to operate a service should be varied, suspended or withdrawn
The government hopes that this will allow firms to pilot small-scale services without a safety driver for the first time – which could be available to members of the public to book via an app – before a potential wider rollout when the Automated Vehicles Act is implemented in full from the second half of 2027.
The UK future of roads minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: “Self-driving vehicles are one of the most exciting opportunities to improve transport for so many people, especially those in rural areas or unable to drive.
“We want to work with passengers and industry to make this new form of transport safe and accessible, as we take our next steps towards adoption.
“This technology doesn’t just have the potential to improve transport for millions of people. It will help stimulate innovation, create thousands of jobs, and drive investment to put more money in people’s pockets – all part of delivering our Plan for Change.”
Achievements and connected autonomous vehicles will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
