This comes as a self-driving bus is set to come into use in Belfast in the coming weeks.
Driverless taxis will be permitted on UK roads from next year(Image: Eli Hartman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has responded to questions around the introduction of self-driving taxis in Northern Ireland. The Minister was responding to a written question from SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan, who had asked whether she would consider a pilot scheme similar to the one recently announced in England by the UK Government’s Transport Secretary.
The proposed scheme in GB is set to trial fully autonomous vehicles, without a safety driver, under a legislative framework that currently only applies in Great Britain.
Northern Ireland, however, lacks the necessary laws to allow such vehicles on public roads without a human operator.
In a written response, Minister Kimmins said: “The proposed self-driving taxi pilot scheme is based within the legislative framework in Great Britain for the use of fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver. There is no such framework here.”
She added that her department will “monitor the progress of the pilot scheme.”
This comes as a self-driving bus is set to come into use in Belfast in the coming weeks. The Harlander will transport passengers from Titanic train halt to Catalyst Science Park in the Titanic Quarter.
However, it will have a safety operator on board with the view that the service will be fully autonomous by 2029.
Self-driving taxis and buses will be allowed on roads in GB without a safety driver starting in Spring 2026, with a view to a wider rollout when the Automated Vehicles Act comes into full effect in 2027.
The UK Government’s ambition to roll out self-driving technology has sparked debate about how and when such innovations could be introduced in Northern Ireland. But for now, a ride in a robotaxi looks to be some way off for local passengers.
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