So in the new Highway code it looks as though folks will be allowed to take their eyes off the road and even to watch TV while their motor takes the strain – oh and they won’t be responsible for any crashes while Herbie is in control either.
SMIDSY - I was watching Terminator officer!

At the moment self driving cars aren’t allowed on UK roads, but there are plans afoot to start road testing these types of vehicles by the end of this year, with a view to getting them on the roads by 2025. That’s not very far off the way time’s winged chariot speeds along…

So the idea is that drivers will be allowed to watch TV on built-in screens in their cars, while their car does the heavy lifting. The Dft (Department for Transport) seems keen on encouraging early adoption of the self drive tech, perhaps hoping people will be tempted by the idea of watching Masterchef on their way home so they can plan their supper :)

Although drivers will be able to watch TV they will have to be ready to take control of the vehicle should a dangerous situation arise on the road, and they still won’t be allowed to use their mobile phone in the car.

Take a Brake!

Currently the technology is under development by Apple, Uber and Google and many cars already have some self drive features in a small way like auto braking to stop the car automatically in a crash situation.
It is to be hoped that particular attention is being paid to the sensors being able to read other road users like motorcyclists who may be faster and smaller than other vehicles and thus, perhaps, more vulnerable to being missed. It may be as well that motorcyclists may be limited in future on what they can do, by way of customisation, in case any changes they make might make their bike harder for a self driving car to recognise.
Although it seems inevitable that this self drive technology will come in, the idea that drivers will have to be ready to take over in the event of a problem, but will not be liable if an accident happens seems rather concerning. Insurance companies will have to cover the costs, so although there should in theory be fewer crashes, they may charge more if accidents, in fact, increase. Time will tell.

Bow to the technological inevitability we must, so is this something you welcome as a car driver or motorcyclist, feeling that it will make the roads safer, or are you at all worried about autonomous vehicles as a motorcyclist?