Automated Vehicles Act 2024

8 Power to vary, suspend or withdraw

(1) The Secretary of State may vary, suspend or withdraw an automated vehicle authorisation with the agreement of the authorised self-driving entity for the authorised automated vehicle concerned.

(2) The Secretary of State may vary, suspend or withdraw an automated vehicle authorisation without that agreement if the Secretary of State is satisfied that a unilateral ground has arisen in respect of the authorisation.

(3) The Secretary of State may suspend or temporarily vary an automated vehicle authorisation without that agreement if the Secretary of State—

(a) suspects that a unilateral ground has arisen in respect of the authorisation, and

(b) proposes to enquire into whether it has.

(4) For the purposes of this section, a unilateral ground arises in respect of an authorisation if—

(a) an authorisation requirement is not or has not been met in respect of the authorised vehicle,

(b) the authorised vehicle has committed a traffic infraction, or

(c) the authorised vehicle no longer satisfies the self-driving test by reference to all authorised locations and circumstances.

(5) A suspension or variation under subsection (3) may not be kept in force after the process of enquiry has concluded, except for so long as may be necessary to allow action to be taken under subsection (2).

(6) An authorisation may be suspended or varied under subsection (2) even if it is already suspended, or varied in the same way, under subsection (3) (in which case the new suspension or variation supersedes the existing one).

(7) Part 1 of Schedule 1—

(a) makes provision about the procedure applicable in connection with variation, suspension or withdrawal under subsection (2) or (3) (including rights of appeal), and

(b) provides for a further case in which an authorisation may be varied, suspended or withdrawn without agreement.