Bristol and the West of England will not be seeing driverless taxis any time soon, despite the Government launching a pilot scheme that could see the automated vehicles rolled out across the country – because metro mayor Helen Godwin isn’t keen on the idea.
While the UK government has launched a nationwide pilot scheme inviting tech firms to apply for automated vehicle licences later this year, the West of England Combined Authority holds the ultimate power to block or permit the vehicles across Bristol and Bath as it takes over regional taxi licensing, says Bristol Live.
As the regional transport authority, the West of England Combined Authority will get the final say on whether people will see driverless vehicles on the streets of Bristol and Bath.
The Government announced the start of a pilot scheme across the whole country, with an invitation to tech firms to apply for licences to operate the vehicles anywhere in the UK later this year.
In the West of England, the Combined Mayoral Authority is in the process of taking control of taxi licences from individual councils, and will get the final say on whether driverless vehicles will be permitted on the West of England’s roads.
The metro mayor believes she should be sorting out public transport before being side-tracked by driverless vehicles, and the combined authority’s transport chiefs will monitor the trials taking place this year in other areas, and any changes in the West of England will be made ‘in consultation with taxi drivers’.
“I’m much more focused on delivering better buses, more trains and stations, and mass transit plans,” Mayor Godwin said.
“With record transport investment from Government, we will get the West moving – and that needs a steady hand on the wheel.”
“Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, whilst driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK,” said Roads and Buses minister, Simon Lightwood.
“This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first,” he added.
(Picture: Olga Gonzalez)
