“London has started up a series of trials to demonstrate the potential of driverless cars in the UK, with the government promising a review of road regulations by 2017 to allow for the innovation. Ministers hosted a showcase of some of the vehicles in Greenwich, southeast London, on Wednesday, with Vince Cable, business secretary, hailing the UK’s position at the “forefront of innovation” in the rapidly advancing technology. Autonomous vehicles are being heralded as a way of vastly improving road safety and reducing accidents, more than 90 per cent of which are caused by human error, as well as alleviating the tedium of driving in heavy traffic. In their fully driverless form, the cars have the potential to increase mobility for those who do not currently hold a licence, such as the elderly or disabled, and free up the six working weeks spent behind the wheel by the average driver in England.

Legislation in most countries prohibits the use of fully autonomous cars on public roads. Only four states in the US have introduced legislation to allow the testing of autonomous vehicles. As many as 15 American states have rejected autonomous driving bills. Europe is seeking to amend the Vienna Convention on road traffic, which demands that drivers shall “at all times” control their vehicles. Britain, which has signed but not ratified the convention, says there is no legislative barrier to testing the cars. But it wants to review and amend the legislation by summer 2017 to provide greater clarity on criminal and civil liability when an autonomous vehicle is involved in an accident, and whether changes would be needed to the MOT test to check the roadworthiness of autonomous vehicles”. – Andy Sharman

A prototype of a Lutz Pathfinder driverless vehicle is displayed to members of the media in Greenwich, east London, February 11, 2015. The Pathfinder will become the first vehicle of its kind to be used in a community setting and will soon begin testing using a footpath in Milton Keynes in central England. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

A woman poses for photographers beside a prototype driverless car called a LUTZ (Low-carbon Urban Transport Zone) Pathfinder Pod, center, and a Meridian shuttle, right, during a launch event for the media near the O2 Arena in London, Wednesday, February 11, 2015. Britain has begun testing driverless cars in four cities, launching the first official trials ahead of a series of planned rule reviews to accommodate the new technology. (Photo by Matt Dunham/AP Photo)

People ride a prototype of a driverless vehicle as it is moves through a pedestrian area in Greenwich, east London, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

People stand on a prototype of a driverless vehicle as it is displayed to members of the media in Greenwich, east London, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

A prototype of a Lutz Pathfinder driverless vehicle is displayed to members of the media in Greenwich, east London, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

People ride a prototype of a driverless vehicle as it is moves through a pedestrian area in Greenwich, east London, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

A member of the media photographs a prototype of a Lutz Pathfinder driverless vehicle is displayed to members of the media in Greenwich, east London, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

People view prototypes of a driverless vehicles in Greenwich, east London, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

A woman poses for photographers beside a prototype driverless car called a LUTZ (Low-carbon Urban Transport Zone) Pathfinder Pod during a launch event for the media near the O2 Arena in London, Wednesday, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Matt Dunham/AP Photo)

Dignitaries try out a prototype driverless car called a Meridian shuttle during a launch event for the media near the O2 Arena in London, Wednesday, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Matt Dunham/AP Photo)

Britain's Business Secretary Vince Cable holds his hands up as he poses for photographers in a prototype driverless car called a LUTZ (Low-carbon Urban Transport Zone) Pathfinder Pod during a launch event for the media near the O2 Arena in London, Wednesday, February 11, 2015. (Photo by Matt Dunham/AP Photo)