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UK Plans to Mandate 18 Hi-Tech Car Features

WireByte Staff · August 7, 2026

The UK government, led by Andy Burnham, will make 18 hi-tech features compulsory in all new vehicles, including automatic braking and speed limit enforcement. The move aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035. The plan has sparked concerns about increased costs for car owners.

Key points

  • The UK government will make 18 hi-tech features, including automatic braking and speed limit enforcement, compulsory in all new vehicles.
  • The initiative aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035, as part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy.
  • The plan has been met with concerns about increased costs for car owners, with prices potentially soaring.
  • The UK has seen over 1,600 lives lost and 28,000 people seriously injured on its roads in 2024 alone, prompting the need for further action.
  • The government's Road Safety Strategy targets a 65% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries by 2035.

The UK government has announced plans to make 18 hi-tech features compulsory in all new vehicles, in an effort to reduce road deaths and serious injuries. The move is part of the government's Road Safety Strategy, which aims to achieve a 65% reduction in road fatalities and serious injuries by 2035.

The 18 features include automatic braking for cyclists and pedestrians, systems that automatically reduce speed when the limit is exceeded, and technology that detects distracted driving. The government has stated that these features will be implemented in all new vehicles, with the aim of making the UK's roads safer.

However, the plan has sparked concerns about increased costs for car owners. The consultation process has come to an end, and the government has announced that it will proceed with the plans, making the legislation law. The exact costs of the implementation are not yet clear, but analysts predict that prices could soar.

The UK has seen a significant number of road fatalities and serious injuries in recent years, with over 1,600 lives lost and 28,000 people seriously injured on its roads in 2024 alone. The government's Road Safety Strategy aims to address this issue, and the implementation of these hi-tech features is a key part of that strategy.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.