The distant driving of automobiles from abroad, corresponding to for the supply of rental automobiles, may very well be banned following a government-commissioned evaluate.

The evaluate was carried out by the Regulation Fee of England and Wales, which really useful ministers regulate the expertise.

It’s at the moment used solely in managed environments, corresponding to farms and warehouses, however future purposes might search to increase its use within the UK to the supply of rental automobiles.

The expertise permits for automobiles to be managed remotely, probably in public areas. There’s at the moment no UK regulation for a driver to be within the car they’re controlling.

The fee mentioned “difficulties in enforcement” meant distant driving from abroad must be prohibited “till applicable worldwide agreements are in place”.

It instructed ministers that distant driving in public must be allowed provided that firms obtained particular permissions.

The evaluate additionally said {that a} distant driver must be chargeable for their actions in the identical manner as somebody sitting behind the wheel of a car, however there must be no legal responsibility for faults past their management, corresponding to connectivity failures.

Nicholas Paines KC, the general public regulation commissioner, mentioned: “Distant driving is an thrilling expertise, however earlier than we see remotely operated automobiles on UK roads we should deal with security issues by means of sturdy regulation.

“Our recommendation concludes that within the instant time period, the federal government would have the ability to deal with some gaps within the regulation round distant driving utilizing present powers, whereas additionally offering a path for firms to make use of the expertise lawfully supplied that their techniques are secure.

“In the long run, it might arrange a full system of distant driving regulation. Laws should reply to different basic issues round safety threats and legal responsibility within the occasion of an accident.

“Our recommendation paper units out a highway map for the way the federal government can deal with these issues, while additionally encouraging firms to innovate.”

The transport minister Jesse Norman mentioned: “Distant driving is already being efficiently used off-road in a number of industries and has big potential to offer new companies and security options for highway automobiles.

“The federal government wants to make sure that security is on the forefront of using any new expertise, and the division will fastidiously think about the Regulation Fee’s suggestions.”

Final 12 months, the fee additionally really useful that customers of self-driving automobiles ought to have immunity from a variety of motoring offences, together with harmful driving, rushing and leaping pink lights.