23 March 2015
3 Mins read

Budget backs driverless cars

The latest Budget has showed support for autonomous vehicles becoming commonplace on UK roads.

Chancellor George Osborne confirmed funding for the development of driverless cars with additional money to make sure the UK stays ahead of other nations in development of the technology.

A total of £100 million will be provided to ensure Britain "stays ahead in the race to driverless technology", as well as providing "the systems required to implement and adopt the technology, such as telecommunications".

Other announcements in the Budget included targeting the growth of low-emission vehicles, with company car rates for such cars to increase slower than previously suggested.

Car owners will also be pleased with the confirmation that fuel duty will not be increased.

It is estimated the average family will save £10 at fill-up time and means it is the longest freeze on fuel duty for two decades.

Mr Osbourne explained: "I want to make sure that the falling oil price is passed on at the pumps."

The chancellor was upbeat at the last Budget before the general election. He revealed the UK economy increased by 2.6 per cent in 2013 and the financial position of the UK remains "fundamentally stronger" than it was five years ago.

"Britain's manufacturing output has grown more than four and a half times faster than it did in the entire decade before the crisis," he added.