UK self-driving car dreams could break down at the starting line

FILE PHOTO: Paul Newman, founder of British autonomous vehicle software startup Oxbotica, speaks next to a converted pickup truck that has been used for test self-driving operations with a mining company, in Oxford, Britain, October 22, 2021. Picture taken October 22, 2021. REUTERS/Nick Carey

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain could lose out on investments in autonomous vehicles (AVs) and see startups shift testing elsewhere if promised laws to regulate the technology are not passed before the next general election, startups and insurance companies said.

Despite the government's vision to be a world leader in AV technology, truly driverless cars are not currently permitted on Britain's roads, making it difficult for start-ups to commercialise their vehicles and insurers to assess their risks.