Posted on the 4th June 2026 in PHTM News

METRO MAYOR PUTS BRAKES ON ROLL OUT OF DRIVERLESS CARS TO WEST OF ENGLAND

Bristol and the West of England will not see driverless taxis on their streets anytime soon after Metro Mayor Helen Godwin rejected the idea, despite a new government push for the technology.

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.

When asked if the region would become an early adopter of driverless technology, Ms Godwin made it clear that her priorities lie elsewhere.

"I'm much more focused on delivering better buses, more trains and stations, and mass transit plans," she said, adding that the region’s record transport funding requires "a steady hand on the wheel."

Transport chiefs for the combined authority intend to monitor trials in other areas first and have pledged that any future changes in the West of England will only be made "in consultation with taxi drivers."

The regional block comes as London moves ahead with the technology, where Waymo vehicles are currently mapping streets with backup drivers at the controls ahead of an autumn roll-out.

The London trials have already faced teething problems, with East London residents complaining that the mapping cars are repeatedly getting stuck in dead-end streets and making loud siren noises late at night.

Despite local hesitation, the government remains highly enthusiastic about the technology's potential.

Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood hailed self-driving vehicles as a "transformative opportunity for Britain" that will open up independent travel for disabled people and older adults while creating high-skilled jobs.

A Department for Transport spokesperson added that the pilot scheme could eventually include driverless buses, noting that the technology could dramatically improve road safety given that "human error currently contributes to 88% of collisions on UK roads."

The government has promised that all pilot services will face rigorous cyber and safety checks, though they will remain off the roads in the West of England for the foreseeable future.


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