Driverless cars could turn the UK into Europe’s leader in autos – but only if we de-regulate first

Driverless cars could turn the UK into Europe’s leader in autos – but only if we de-regulate first

A fake suburb in Florida, complete with sidewalks, shops and parents out with their children. Huge chunks of highway given over to testing new types of machine. Tweaks to the law to get rid of side mirrors, and to allow drivers to watch a film while they are out for a spin in their new car.

It may sound like the stuff of sci-fi. But in fact, these are all measures that individual American states have taken in the last few months to try and capture a slice on what may well prove to be the biggest industry of the coming decade – the driverless car.

This country should learn a trick from that. We have already made some decent first steps towards easing the regulations that stand in the way of a flourishing new industry. But we should be doing a lot more. Why? Because we already have a surprisingly successful car industry.

And yet, if we could take the lead in driverless cars by deregulating faster and with more commitment than any other country in the EU, then we could create the biggest automobile industry on the continent, outstripping Germany and Spain. That would be a prize well worth having.

Read more : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/matthew-lynn/11794415/Driverless-cars-could-turn-the-UK-into-Europes-leader-in-autos-but-only-if-we-de-regulate-first.html