Automated Vehicles Act 2024

44 Interpretation

(1) In this Part—

• “authorisation conditions” has the meaning given by section 5(2);

• “authorisation requirement” means a requirement imposed by regulations under section 5;

• “authorised automation feature” means a feature identified in an automated vehicle authorisation further to section 4(1);

• “authorised locations and circumstances”—

  (a)

  in relation to an authorised automation feature, means the locations and circumstances specified in relation to that feature further to section 4(3)(c);

  (b)

  in relation to an authorised automated vehicle, means the locations and circumstances so specified in relation to the authorised automation features of the vehicle (taken as a whole);

• “authorised no-user-in-charge feature” means an authorised automation feature whose mode of operation is specified in the automated vehicle authorisation as no-user-in-charge;

• “authorised self-driving entity” means a person for the time being designated under authorisation requirements of the sort described in section 6(1);

• “authorised user-in-charge feature” means an authorised automation feature whose mode of operation is specified in the automated vehicle authorisation as user-in-charge;

• “automated vehicle authorisation” means an authorisation under section 3;

• “control” and related expressions are to be read in accordance with section 1(6);

• “equipment” of a vehicle includes software, and any electronic equipment outside the vehicle, that interacts with equipment in the vehicle;

• “feature” has the meaning given by section 1(4);

• “initial authorisation requirement” means an authorisation requirement of the sort described in section 5(1)(a);

• “the investigative purposes” has the meaning given by section 16(1);

• “licensed no-user-in-charge operator” means a person for the time being licensed under operator licensing regulations;

• “no-user-in-charge journey” has the meaning given by section 12(2);

• “ongoing authorisation requirement” means an authorisation requirement of the sort described in section 5(1)(b);

• “operator licensing regulations” means regulations under section 12;

• “overseen”, in relation to a no-user-in-charge journey, is to be read in accordance with section 12(3);

• “premises” includes any land;

• “regulated body” means an authorised self-driving entity or a licensed no-user-in-charge operator;

• “regulatory requirement” means an authorisation requirement or a requirement under operator licensing regulations;

• “safely” is to be read in accordance with section 1(7);

• “the statement of safety principles” means the statement that has effect for the time being under section 2;

• “transition demand” and “transition period” are to be read in accordance with section 7(2);

• “travels autonomously” and related expressions are to be read in accordance with section 1(5);

• “user-in-charge” has the same meaning as in Part 2 (see section 46);

• “vary” and related expressions are to be read, in relation to an automated vehicle authorisation, in accordance with section 9(1).

(2) For the purposes of this Part, a vehicle “commits a traffic infraction” if, while an authorised automation feature of the vehicle is engaged, the vehicle does anything that would, were an individual in control of it—

(a) amount to the commission of an offence by that individual, or

(b) cause a person to become liable to a penalty charge under an enactment relating to road traffic.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(a), it is to be assumed that nothing can be proved about the mental state of the notional individual.

(4) For the purposes of this Part, a regulated body is “responsible” for an authorised automated vehicle—

(a) in the case of an authorised self-driving entity, if the body is the authorised self-driving entity for the vehicle;

(b) in the case of a licensed no-user-in-charge operator, when the vehicle undertakes a no-user-in-charge journey overseen by the body.

(5) Any question arising under this Part as to whether an authorised automation feature is “engaged” or “disengaged” is to be determined in accordance with what is specified under section 4(3)(b).