VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Driverless Vehicles: Disability and Older People

Asked by Jerome MayhewConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 16 June 2026UIN 7521

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what specific guidance her Department has issued to operators joining the self-driving vehicles pilot scheme to help ensure that services are (a) fully accessible to and (b) meet the needs of older and disabled passengers.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

My department has established an external Accessibility Advisory Panel to guide the development of policies and non-statutory guidance relating to the accessible deployment of Automated Passenger Services (APS).

The Panel has been tasked with shaping guidance on the statutory reporting requirement in the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 to show how the needs of older and disabled passengers have been met. The Panel will also inform non-statutory guidance for APS operators to help improve the accessibility of their services.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim