The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026

Published: Tue 21st Apr 26

These Regulations, titled the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026, bring into force specific provisions of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 starting from May 15, 2026, primarily implementing Part 5 concerning permits for automated passenger services (except for sections related to civil sanctions and specific administrative procedures) and enacting Section 93, which mandates the provision of information about traffic regulation measures by authorities in England and Wales.

Arguments For

Allows the operational aspects of automated passenger services, specifically permit schemes, to move forward, facilitating the rollout of new transport methods.
Enables the requirement for traffic authorities to provide necessary information about traffic regulation measures, which supports the safe and predictable operation of automated vehicles on public roads.
Completes the commencement of key regulatory frameworks, moving beyond initial provisions previously enacted only for the purpose of making subordinate legislation.

Arguments Against

The exclusion of civil sanctions (Section 84) means that immediate enforcement mechanisms for permit infringements are not yet active, potentially creating a gap in regulatory oversight upon commencement of other permit provisions.
Delayed commencement of certain administrative and procedural sections related to permits may cause temporary confusion or limit the full functionality of the permit scheme until subsequent commencement regulations are made.
Piecemeal commencement requires relevant bodies (like traffic authorities) to prepare for new duties (under Section 93) without the accompanying enforcement powers for non-compliance relating to the permit framework.

2026 No. 437 (C. 38)

ROADS

ROAD TRAFFIC

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026

Made

20th April 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 99(1) and (2) of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024( a ).

These are the formal statutory instruments identified as Statutory Instrument 2026/437, categorized under Roads and Road Traffic.

The Secretary of State created these regulations on April 20, 2026, using the authority granted by sections 99(1) and (2) of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024.

Citation and interpretation

These Regulations may be cited as the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026.

This regulation establishes the official short title that must be used when referencing these legal instruments.

Provisions coming into force on 15th May 2026

The following provisions of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, so far as not already in force, come into force on 15th May 2026-

(a) Part 5 (permits for automated passenger services), except-
(i) section 84 (civil sanctions for infringements of the permit scheme), and
(ii) section 89(8)(b) and (10) (procedural and administrative matters);
(b) section 93 (provision of information about traffic regulation measures).

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State

20th April 2026

( a ) 2024 c. 10.

Simon Lightwood

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Transport

This section specifies which parts of the main Act will become legally active on May 15, 2026, provided they were not already in force.

This includes Part 5 covering permits for automated passenger services, although it specifically excludes section 84 regarding financial penalties for non-compliance and certain administrative parts of section 89.

Additionally, section 93, which deals with requiring traffic authorities to supply data on traffic rules, is also activated.

The instrument was formally signed by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, Simon Lightwood, on the date of its making.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are the second commencement Regulations made under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (c. 10) ('the Act'). They bring into force specified provisions of the Act.

Regulation 2 brings into force on 15th May 2026, so far as not already in force, Part 5 (except sections 84 and 89(8)(b) and (10)) and section 93 of the Act.

Part 5 of the Act makes provision for permits for automated passenger services. Sections 88 and 89 of the Act came into force on 1st January 2026, but only for the purpose of making regulations. These Regulations do not commence sections 84 and 89(8)(b) and (10) of the Act, nor, therefore, Schedule 6 to the Act, which relate to civil sanctions for infringements of the permit scheme.

Section 93 of the Act allows the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers to make regulations that require traffic regulation authorities in England and Wales, respectively, to provide prescribed information about traffic regulations measures.

The Explanatory Note clarifies that this instrument is the second set of regulations to activate parts of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024.

Regulation 2 activates Part 5 (permits for automated passenger services) and Section 93 (information sharing about traffic rules) from May 15, 2026.

Part 5 establishes the basis for automated service permits.

It notes that previous sections (88 and 89) were already activated on January 1, 2026, solely to allow for related rulemaking.

Crucially, it confirms that sanctions for breaking permit rules (Section 84 and Schedule 6) are postponed.

Section 93 gives power to central government ministers to require local traffic authorities to hand over specific data regarding traffic management schemes in England and Wales.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The following provisions of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 have been brought into force by commencement Regulations made before the date of these Regulations.

| Provision | Date of Commencement | S.I. No. | |------------------------|------------------------|-------------------| | section 55 | 1st January 2026 | 2025/1339 (C. 73) | | section 56 | 1st January 2026 | 2025/1339 (C. 73) | | section 78 (partially) | 1st January 2026 | 2025/1339 (C. 73) | | section 88 (partially) | 1st January 2026 | 2025/1339 (C. 73) | | section 89 (partially) | 1st January 2026 | 2025/1339 (C. 73) |

This note lists provisions of the 2024 Act that became effective prior to this second commencement order, citing the Statutory Instrument number and date.

Sections 55, 56, and parts of sections 78, 88, and 89 all commenced on January 1, 2026, under the previous regulations (S.I. 2025/1339).

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