Passengers will be able to book self driving taxis later this year for the first time after operators were invited to apply for licences to run cars across the country.
Ministers are launching a pilot scheme for the technology as they believe it could create “thousands” more jobs and unlock billions for the UK economy by 2035.
But the vehicles have come under greater scrutiny in recent days after residents in east London complained about self-driving cars currently being tested in the capital repeatedly entering dead end streets in the middle of the night.
The Department for Transport believes the vehicles will provide greater freedom and independence for older and disabled people, as well as providing greater options for work and leisure activities.
It is also championing the technology as it believes it will make roads safer, with human error currently blamed for around 88 per cent of collisions on UK roads.
