Motoring expert warns UK not ready for driverless cars for 1 reason

Motoring experts have warned the Daily Express that the UK's pothole-filled, crumbling road network is not ready for next year's trial rollout of driverless Uber robotaxis. The ride-hailing app has already been working with the UK artificial intelligence (AI) firm Wayve to test the technology on London's streets with human oversight, in line with current legislation.

Uber hopes driverless taxis—if legislation allows—could become a regular option via its UK app. The Department of Transport (DfT) says the industry could create 38,000 jobs and add £42bn to Britain's economy by 2035. But infrastructure expert Mark Coates, from the Infrastructure Policy Advancement (IPA) thinktank, who's led Highways England projects, fears our pothole-filled roads are simply not ready to support them.

The RAC says the UK has over one million potholes across England and Wales—an average of six per mile—and another study claims it would take a staggering £17bn and a decade to fill them.

Mark said: "While Uber might be prepared to embrace driverless technology, our roads are far from ready for such a transition.

"Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) require more than just intelligent algorithms. They need functional infrastructure: clear lane markings, well-maintained surfaces, and uniform signage. Yet we’re facing an infrastructure crisis.

"AVs depend on precision. Roads in disrepair make navigation less reliable and more dangerous, even before factoring in widespread roadworks and short-term closures that complicate route planning.

"Beyond tarmac, driverless technology also depends on significant digital capabilities – low-latency 5G networks, edge computing, and live data-sharing.

"Currently, much of this is lacking outside urban centres, leaving a significant portion of the country disconnected from AVs’ potential."

But Mark insists the solution is also not just throwing money down the well - or the potholes.

He added: "Fixing this is about strategy, as well as funding.

"The UK needs a long-term infrastructure plan that reflects the technological demands of modern mobility. That includes rethinking how we fund roads.

"While unpopular in the UK, some form of road use charging is gaining international traction – from HGV charges in Europe to electric vehicle levies in New Zealand.

"As fuel duty revenues will decline with EV update, a national pay-per-mile system could provide fund improvements to the road network’s performance, and support maintenance.

"The digital technology is prepared. But the roads are not. It’s time to address this issue."

One of Britain's leading asphalt firms, who fix potholes - Holcim UK in Ashbourne - told us, "We've got to start funding our national highways better and ring-fence funding."

Holcim UK's technical director Phil Sabin said: "Instead of unveiling the next 12 months of funding for our roads, the government needs to be creating a five-year or 10-year strategy of funding, so local authorities know how they're going to spend their money.

"It would enable councils to do proper preventative maintenance up front, and stop us having to go back and do the emergency stuff.

"Local roads in particular are in a poor state - but they're not giving the funding to do it, so make short-term decisions, like pothole repair and patching, rather than long-term maintenance treatments."

New research commissioned by the National Accident Helpline reveals a sense of nervousness among the public. 58% harbour safety fears that would prevent them from purchasing a self-driving vehicle.

Half say they simply don’t trust the technology, and more than a third (39%) would feel safer flying on autopilot rather than being driven by an AV.

While John Kushnick, the National Accident Helpline's legal operations director, told the Daily Express, safety is not the only concern, as liability after a crash or a pedestrian is hit is a new UK legal ground.

John said: "When a self-driving car crashes, who’s at fault? Is it the driver, the manufacturer or the software developer?

"With autonomous vehicles, it’s likely that manufacturers will bear more responsibility. The benefit is that these cars will record everything, making it easier to establish fault.

"However, we’ll need to rethink how insurance works when the human is no longer in control – does the policy belong to the person or the machine?

"Interestingly, over half of Brits say they’d be more likely to make a claim if the other vehicle was self-driving, perhaps because they feel less guilt than if a human were involved.

"But it remains of utmost importance to remember that in either case, claims are made against insurance companies, not individuals.

"The UK’s move toward autonomous driving marks a major shift – one that could make roads safer and travel smarter.

"But gaining trust from the public will take time, and it must be earned through transparency, robust regulation and ongoing education."

Uber launched a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in March and said its driverless vehicles could work for 20 hours per day, seven days per week.

Driverless cars have travelled millions of miles in other countries, including China, UAE and Singapore and based solely on small amounts of US data, automated vehicles appear less accident-prone than human drivers, based on US data.

But there have been a number of incidents involving robotaxis in the countries where they operate, ranging from road accidents to passengers being locked in, with one service in San Francisco cancelled after a series of malfunctions.

In January, a man in Arizona, US, documented how his robotaxi drove round in circles in an airport car park, with him trapped in the vehicle, unable to stop the car or get help.

A poll by YouGov in 2024 suggested that 37% of Brits would feel "very unsafe" travelling in a car without a driver.

GMB national secretary Andy Prendergast has said the "significant social implications" driverless cars and taxis could have, including on unemployment, should also be fully considered.

While Tom Leggett, vehicle technology manager at Thatcham Research - an independent car safety centre - emphasised that robotaxis in the UK would need to be "safety-led".

He stated: "Secondly, they will have to make sure the data is available to those who need it – insurers and those investigating incidents when they occur."

Uber has said it is "ready to go" now with driverless taxis in the UK - but the Government has put back the date it expects to approve fully self-driving vehicles to 2027.

However, on 10 June, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government would fast-track pilots to spring 2026, introducing self-driving commercial pilots on England’s roads.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "The future of transport is arriving. Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world leaders in new technology."

Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO of Wayve, said: "These early pilots will help build public trust and unlock new jobs, services, and markets."

The Daily Express contacted Uber on June 3 to request a response to the experts' concerns, but as of today, we have yet to receive one.

The DfT have told the Daily Express it's the responsibility of AV firms like Uber to ensure vehicles can operate safely on our existing road network.

They said the Automated Vehicles Act will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as competent and careful human drivers.

A DfT spokesperson said: "Self-driving vehicles will have to meet rigorous safety standards to drive on UK roads, complying with the Highway Code on our existing road infrastructure.

"That said, this will not stop our work to end Britain’s pothole plague, which is why we’re investing a record £1.6bn this year to help local authorities fix the equivalent of up to seven million extra potholes this year to ensure smoother and safer roads for all."