The Department for Transport has issued a call for consultation on the use of Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) on Great Britain’s motorways, including:

an overview of ALKS

ensuring the safe use of ALKS

questions around fair delegation and residual responsibility

questions around the performance of other activities

ALKS is vehicle technology designed to control the lateral, left and right, and longitudinal, forward and back, movement of the vehicle for an extended period without further driver command.

During such times, the system is in primary control of the vehicle, and performs the driving task instead of the driver, at low speeds on motorways.

The DfT is  seeking views to understand if ALKS technology is compliant with the definition of automation under the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018.

This act requires that the vehicle be capable of safely and lawfully driving itself without being controlled and without needing to be monitored, when in automated mode.