Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) and Listing of Self-Driving Vehicles

This page was last updated on 29th July 2022

What is ALKS? 

Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) will be the first commercially available systems designed for passenger vehicles that will enable the driver to safely hand over control to the vehicle.  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 on motorway-type roads.  These vehicles are approved to UNECE Regulation R157. 

Self-Driving Vehicles Listed for Use in Great Britain 

The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 (AEVA) creates an insurance framework for automated vehicles (AVs) by amending the Road Traffic Act. As part of achieving this, AEVA requires the Secretary of State to create a list of vehicles which are capable of ‘safely driving themselves’.  A vehicle deemed as driving itself if it “is operating in a mode in which it is not being controlled, and does not need to be monitored, by an individual”. 

You can check Self-driving vehicles listed for use in Great Britain on the GOV website. 

If you have any questions in relation to the listing of automated vehicles that are not fitted with an ALKS you can contact the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles at enquiries@ccav.gov.uk. 

ALKS Listing Review 

Vehicles which are approved to UNECE R157 and include the United Kingdom within their Operational Design Domain (ODD) should meet the threshold of self-driving and therefore be added to the Secretary of State’s List. Decisions will be made on a case by case basis. 

VCA will carry out a thorough review of all approvals submitted which include ALKS, in order that the decision to list the vehicles based on them having a UNECE Regulation 157 approval can be confirmed as valid in each case. 

This process is without prejudice of the UK’s mutual recognition obligations under the UNECE 1958 Agreement but serves to confirm the following points:  

• The vehicle type has been approved with the United Kingdom in its ODD 
• The documentation includes adequate evidence that the vehicle can comply with GB traffic rules 
• The documentation includes adequate evidence that the system has been sufficiently validated in GB 
• The documentation does not give any indication that VCA interpretations concerning UNECE R157 have been contravened 
• Details are provided for how to access and download data from the DSSAD (Data Storage System for Automated Driving) 
• Details are given for the DSSAD retention period when operating in the UK 
• If the functionality is to be added to previously-registered vehicles via software update: 
• • How the manufacturer will ensure vehicle owner / keeper consent 
  • How the manufacturer informs the vehicle keeper of their legal obligation to update the vehicle’s registration record 
  • How the manufacturer informs the vehicle owner / keeper / user of their obligation to inform their insurer 

Details must also be provided explaining how individual ALKS vehicles can be identified, for example by Variant / Version, option codes, etc. 

If the ALKS feature is also to be added to previously registered vehicles via software update, the manufacturer must provide the following additional information: 

• How the manufacturer will ensure vehicle owner / keeper consent 
• How the manufacturer informs the vehicle keeper user of their legal obligation to update the vehicle’s registration record 
• How the manufacturer informs the vehicle owner / keeper / users of their legal obligation to inform their insurer 

Please contact the Regulatory and Technology Group at RTG@vca.gov.uk if require further information on the processes set out above.