The distant driving of autos from abroad, akin to for the supply of rental vehicles, may very well be banned following a government-commissioned overview.

The overview was carried out by the Legislation Fee of England and Wales, which beneficial ministers regulate the expertise.

It’s at the moment used solely in managed environments, akin to farms and warehouses, however future functions may search to increase its use within the UK to the supply of rental vehicles.

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

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

It advised ministers that distant driving in public needs to be allowed provided that corporations obtained particular permissions.

The overview additionally said {that a} distant driver needs to be answerable for their actions in the identical method as somebody sitting behind the wheel of a car, however there needs to be no legal responsibility for faults past their management, akin to connectivity failures.

Nicholas Paines KC, the general public legislation commissioner, mentioned: “Distant driving is an thrilling expertise, however earlier than we see remotely operated vehicles on UK roads we should handle security issues via sturdy regulation.

“Our recommendation concludes that within the rapid time period, the federal government would be capable to handle some gaps within the legislation round distant driving utilizing present powers, whereas additionally offering a path for corporations to make use of the expertise lawfully supplied that their techniques are secure.

“In the long run, it may arrange a full system of distant driving regulation. Laws should reply to different elementary 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 handle these issues, while additionally encouraging corporations to innovate.”

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

“The federal government wants to make sure that security is on the forefront of the usage of any new expertise, and the division will rigorously take into account the Legislation Fee’s suggestions.”

Final yr, the fee additionally beneficial that customers of self-driving vehicles should have immunity from a variety of motoring offences, together with harmful driving, rushing and leaping purple lights.