NewsUK NewsCarsBritish roads are set to be changed forever as the government unveils new plans for self-driving cars - the 'robotaxis' could appear in towns and cities across the UK by the end of the year00:01, 22 May 2026Self-driving cars could be hitting roads across Britain by the end of this year after the government unveiled a major licensing shake-up.‌Passengers will be able to order a robot vehicle in the same way you would order a cab under the scheme, which it is hoped will unlock billions for the UK economy over the next decade.‌The Department for Transport - who begin accepting applications from operators today - said the futuristic cars could give "greater freedom" for older and disabled people while reducing the number of serious accidents, with human error currently to blame for 88% of collisions on UK roads.‌READ MORE: Heatwave to trigger super busy bank holiday getaway - all you need to knowREAD MORE: DVLA rule means drivers 'must pay' or your car could be clamped and crushedRoads and buses minister, Simon Lightwood said: "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."This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first."‌The roll-out will mark the latest stage in the pilot scheme for self-driving vehicles, will all services to be subject to "strict safety assessments" to protect against cyber attacks and security threats. Local transport authorities will also need to provide "local consent" to ensure services suit their region.US tech firm Waymo began testing self-driving cars in London at the end of last year, with all vehicles currently carrying a permanent motorist behind the wheel as a safety measure. The vehicles are not carrying passengers during the testing phase.‌The pilot has run into some controversy so far, as footage shared earlier this month showed a car driving through a live police cordon in Harlesden.A Waymo spokesperson said the car was in manual mode "with a validation driver in full control", who has since been suspended pending an investigation.And the company issued an official apology after one of its autonomous vehicles repeatedly got stuck in a narrow cul-de-sac in Spitalfields, East London, waking local residents in the middle of the night with loud reversing alerts and "siren-like" noises. Waymo said it would strictly limit its vehicles from entering the street while they continue testing across the capital.Article continues belowOther operators who have signalled an interest in launching driverless cars in the UK include Wayve, a startup headquartered in London, and Chinese tech giant Baidu, who announced a partnership with Uber last year.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Cars