UK Government to invest £20 million into driver-less car research

Well, this could certainly change the face of carsharing!

The British Government announced last week they’ll be investing £20 million into the research and development of driver-less cars, as part of a wider £100 million investment into intelligent mobility, as announced in the recent spring budget.

The investment will be matched by industry bodies and will help develop research and development in the sector over the next few years.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones, said of the investment, “Driverless cars will bring great benefits to our society and economy, and I want the UK to lead the way in developing this exciting technology.”

He added, “The UK is in the best position when it comes to testing driverless cars and embracing the motoring of the future”.

Funding will be awarded after a tender to find a company with the most innovative approach to working on driver-less technology – prioritising safety and communication between the vehicles.

Laws will now begin to come into place to regulate the usage of these vehicles. You’ll still need to be insured (so you would still covered for having a car sharer make a petrol contribution), and will need someone with a full driving licence in the car, but you will still not be able to use your phone.

This move would be great news for liftsharers – as the social benefits will be improved. This’ll mean more chats, karaoke along to the radio, and even reading and car games along the way!

It’s estimated that this driverless tech will be worth £900 million by 2026… but of course, you don’t want to wait until then to get liftsharing. Find your sharing match now and hop in!