WMG professor welcomes London Assembly Transport Committee inquiry report
Monday 12 October 2026
WMG professor welcomes London Assembly Transport Committee inquiry report
Expert comment from Professor Siddartha KhastgirLink opens in a new window, Head of Safe Autonomy at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick, on the London Assembly Transport Committee inquiry report: Who’s driving the future of autonomous transport in London? Link opens in a new window
"I welcome the report and applaud the Committee for inviting a wide-ranging group of experts to investigate the impact that self-driving technology could have on London’s streets. I was privileged to be invited to give evidence and am pleased to note the report’s focus on safety.
"The safety of autonomous passenger vehicles (or robotaxis) in London will be governed by the United Nations’ Regulation (UNR 185), which, after seven years of robust deliberation, has been agreed by governments worldwide, including the UK, as well as advocacy bodies and industry representatives.
"Additionally, the UK’s Automated Vehicles Act 2024 builds on the UN Regulation by adding UK-specific needs to ensure these vehicles and our roads are safe when deployed. The UNR and the UK’s AV Act require the safety benchmark for autonomous vehicles to be as good as a ‘careful and competent driver’.
"While the report calls for a stronger baseline, I would emphasise that developing a clear, objective definition of this benchmark would enable a more robust and valuable evaluation of performance for Transport for London (TfL), travellers, vehicle developers, and the wider ecosystem.
"I encourage the London Assembly Transport Committee, TfL, and all those who contributed to the review to proactively engage with technology developers and policymakers as the landscape continues to evolve.”
Find out more about WMG’s Safe Autonomy research: Safe AutonomyLink opens in a new window