Part 1: Regulatory scheme for automated vehicles Chapter 1: Authorisation of road vehicles for automated use Section 4: Authorised automation features
The self-driving test will consider vehicle ‘features’ designed to enable self-driving. A ‘feature’ in this context is a system that operates in a specific set of circumstances which must be specified as part of the authorisation application. For example, a self-driving parking feature or a self-driving motorway chauffeur feature. A vehicle may have more than one self-driving ‘feature’. For example, it may be able to drive itself on motorways using a particular combination of equipment, and in car parks using a different combination of equipment.
	Section 4 (1) requires the Secretary of State to identify the feature or features that meet the self-driving test. More than one feature may be identified if the features are distinct (subsection (2)). Subsection (3) details what the feature identification should include.
	Subsection (3)(a) clarifies that a ‘mode of operation’ is either as a ‘user-in-charge’ (UiC) feature or a ‘no-user-in-charge’ NUiC feature. A UiC feature is one that can drive itself for only part of a journey and therefore requires an individual to be a driver for the remainder of the journey, for example a motorway chauffeur system. A NUiC feature is one that can drive itself for an entire journey and does not require an individual to be capable of taking control, for example a self-driving airport shuttle bus.
	The distinction between UiC and NUiC features set out in subsection (3)(a) will determine the safety requirements for each. For example, a UiC feature can issue transition demands to ensure safe transition of control from the vehicle to a driver (see section 7). A NUiC feature will require a licensed operator (a no-user-in-charge operator or NUiC operator – see Chapter 2) to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle. For example, taking responsibility for insurance.
	The description of the locations and circumstances under which a vehicle is authorised to drive itself will ensure that users of a vehicle understand where and when it can safely be used (subsection (4)) and supports the determination of responsibility for a vehicle’s driving behaviour. The locations specified could include places that are not roads for example car park areas that are not defined as roads, but in line with section 3(1)(a) the feature must be intended for use on roads in at least some circumstances in order to limit the scope of authorisation powers. Subsection (5) requires that the description of how a feature is engaged and disengaged must ensure that, where more than one feature is authorised, it is possible to identify which feature, if any, is engaged at any given moment. Section 44(5) sets out that any question on interpretation about whether a feature is engaged or disengaged will be determined by the authorisation description required by this section.