self driving vehicle on UK motorways in 2023

[Horse]

In related news, They've come up with self driving taxis here that lack a steering wheel & pedals etc. A human can't drive them..
Problem: vehicles without controls for humans aren't road legal in the US...

Someone should tell Zoox who appear to be operating in Vegas with such a design.

https://zoox.com/journal/las-vegas/

According to Google:

Zoox obtained permission to operate its steering wheel-less, purpose-built robotaxis on public roads by receiving a formal exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in August 2025.

This historic approval allows the Amazon-owned company to deploy its driverless, four-passenger vehicles without traditional steering wheels, brake pedals, or sideview mirrors.

Zoox achieved this milestone through several key steps:

Federal Exemption:
NHTSA granted the exemption in August 2025 under its updated Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP), marking the first time an American company received such approval.

Safety Demonstration:
Zoox had to prove its vehicles provide safety equivalent to, or higher than, vehicles with human controls, backed by extensive testing and millions of autonomous miles.

Operational Scope:
The approval allows for demonstration on public roads and employee shuttles in areas like San Francisco and Las Vegas, rather than a nationwide commercial launch, and resolves a 2023 federal investigation.

This exemption allows for the operation of up to 2,500 vehicles annually, with potential for further scaling.

[iansoady]

I do wonder how they achieved the second criterion. It says "prove" not "assert".....

[Rockburner]

I do wonder how they achieved the second criterion. It says "prove" not "assert".....

Lobbyists.

[Cousin Jack]

I do wonder how they achieved the second criterion. It says "prove" not "assert".....

Lobbyists.

Stands to reason. If 27 important lobbyists buy me 27 expensive lunches it must be a good thing. What does Joe Public know about stuff, I can ignore them.

Now, just to make certain, what about dinner?

[Mussels]

I do wonder how they achieved the second criterion. It says "prove" not "assert".....

Word games, sounds impressive but could just need to beat Tesla.

[Horse]

Interesting, and concerning, study by Thatcham Research.

They took several vehicles with Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) systems, and drove them into a scenario of a stopped vehicle and pedestrian in the road.

With the additional twist that the stopped vehicle had blue flashing lamps.

Four different vehicles (with high- and low-spec versions of each). Radar, camera, and both, systems. Day and night.

Summary: don't be that pedestrian.

Worse still, if these findings are combined with the 2025 IIHS study which found that Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems often fail to detect reflective clothing at night.

[McNab]

I saw one of those waymo cars in London yesterday on the approach to the Elephant and Castle. It had all the sensors and whatnot spinning. I didn't see much as I buzzed past it as it was trying to work out if it could fit through the gap between a bus and the traffic island.

[Horse]

I saw one of those waymo cars in London yesterday on the approach to the Elephant and Castle. It had all the sensors and whatnot spinning. I didn't see much as I buzzed past it as it was trying to work out if it could fit through the gap between a bus and the traffic island.

Perhaps it was slow because a pedestrian might be trying to cross in front of the bus?

[Horse]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... applicants

Published 31 March 2026

The self-driving vehicle piloting scheme enables the use of automated vehicle (AV) technologies without a safety driver on roads in Great Britain. This guidance has been developed to assist the application process and outline the expectations and requirements for pilot deployments.

The piloting process is distinct from the ‘trialling’ of automated vehicle technologies and services with a safety driver, which falls under the code of practice. Trialling of automated vehicle technologies requires a safety driver who is ready, able and willing to resume control of the vehicle.

This guidance does not apply to vehicles that require the use of a safety driver whilst the automated driving system (ADS) is engaged (for either control or for monitoring the vehicle with a view to immediate and safety-critical intervention in the way the vehicle drives).

[Dickyboy]

From the BBC website:-

A mass robotaxi outage in the Chinese city of Wuhan caused at least a hundred self-driving cars to stop mid-traffic, sparking renewed debate around the safety of driverless vehicles.

The first two waymo cars I saw were nr elephant & castle - seems they like to recharge at the petrol station on New Kent road.

[McNab]

I saw one of those waymo cars in London yesterday on the approach to the Elephant and Castle. It had all the sensors and whatnot spinning. I didn't see much as I buzzed past it as it was trying to work out if it could fit through the gap between a bus and the traffic island.

Perhaps it was slow because a pedestrian might be trying to cross in front of the bus?

I'd already knocked them out of the way

[Mussels]

How many suddenly immobile cars would it take to paralyse London?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvge91r9j80o

A mass robotaxi outage in the Chinese city of Wuhan caused at least a hundred self-driving cars to stop mid-traffic, sparking renewed debate around the safety of driverless vehicles.

In December 2025, ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft announced partnerships with the Chinese technology giant to test its Apollo Go cars on UK roads, aiming to start trials in 2026.

[Horse]

How many suddenly immobile cars would it take to paralyse London?

Dunno, about immobile cars. But I used to know a chap who worked in TfL's traffic control room.

He said visitors often asked "What would you have to do to bring London to a standstill?"

His answer: "Do? Just do nothing."

[The Spin Doctor]

Spotted a couple of Waymos round Park Royal a few days back.

Before they put the lights in at Hyde Park Corner at the top of Park Lane, all it took to bring the traffic to a standstill was a bunch of traffic cops deciding to go on point duty. Always flowed better when they weren't there.

Rarely a problem going round it now... that's because of the crazy wide bus / cycle lane going northbound up Park Lane meaning just one lane for ordinary traffic. Traffic queues all the way back to the other end now.