USERS of self-driving cars will escape prosecution over fatal crashes under bombshell plans.
Companies who produce the automatic vehicles will instead face criminal prosecution in the worst cases of safety failures.
The shocking new initiative was announced as part of the King's Speech on Tuesday in a new Automated Vehicles Bill.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has embraced the new technology, which is still largely in a testing phase in the UK.
Brits will still be responsible for correctly insuring the cars, and will be held accountable for accidents that happen while they are driving.
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But according to the new bill, there will be "clear legal liability" that will "protect users from being unfairly held accountable".
According to the documents: “The Bill gives people immunity from prosecution when a self-driving vehicle is driving itself, given it does not make sense to then hold the person sitting behind the wheel responsible.
“Non-driving responsibilities however will still remain with that person, such as maintaining appropriate insurance for the vehicle and ensuring proper loading, as well as responsibility during any part of the journey where the person is driving.”
It did, however, make clear that companies will be "firmly accountable once vehicles on roads", adding: "Companies will have to meet safety requirements from the point a vehicle is introduced onto our roads or face new sanctions and penalties if they fail in their duty.
"These include fines, requirements to take corrective action, and suspension of operation. Criminal offences will apply in serious cases.”
While insurance companies in Britain welcomed the clarity, the RAC insisted that road signs must improve before self-driving cars become commonplace on UK roads.
No10 dismissed concerns that the new bombshell policy would put off manufacturers from producing driverless cars in the UK.
It was announced in November that self-driving cars would be given the green light to operate on British streets under new laws.
Ministers said they want to unlock a transport revolution to help create 38,000 skilled jobs and a market worth up to £42 billion for the UK economy by 2035.
The driverless motors will help make the roads safer as 88 per cent of accidents involve human error, the government said.
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The move could mean buses and grocery deliveries will be operating autonomously by the middle of the next decade.
Brits will be able to get to work and school more easily which will hope to boost productivity.
Laws will be updated to ensure self-driving benefits can be fulfilled with the Automated Vehicles Bill being brought in as part of the King’s Speech.
It will make sure that the only the driver, being the vehicle or person, is accountable.
As part of his speech on Tuesday, King Charles outlined the main laws Mr Sunak hopes to deliver in the next 12 months - including a ban on fags, a huge increase in North Sea drilling and a vape tax.
He also announced plans to outlaw hated drip pricing, where businesses such as Ryanair and easyJet fail to disclose hidden fees to customers.
The occasion was a last chance saloon for the PM to sell himself to Britain ahead of a showdown General Election next year.
