The UK government has pledged to keep the country at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport as part of this year’s Queen’s Speech.
Unveiled today, the Queen said new legislation would be introduced to “improve Britain’s competitiveness and make the United Kingdom a world leader in the digital economy”.
“My ministers will ensure the United Kingdom is at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport, including autonomous and electric vehicles,” added the monarch.
The new Modern Transport Bill, outlined by the Queen, is expected to drive measures to encourage investment in driverless cars, electric cars, commercial space planes and drones across Great Britain.
Additionally, the new piece of legislation will also seek to ensure that insurance is available to users of driverless cars in Great Britian.
‘New era of technology’
Edo Tealdi, managing director of Digital at NTT DATA UK, commented on the announcement: “Driverless cars are set to drive the insurance industry round the bend … A clear sign that the insurance industry is being compelled to transform and embrace this new era of car ownership.
“The stage is set for the insurance industry to embrace a new era of technology, adapt processes and introduce a digital-first approach. One thing is for sure, consumers will expect change or will look elsewhere, raising the prospect of disruptive new cover providers impacting their business,” he added.
Digital economy bill
The Queen also announced a digital economy bill, which would see every household in the UK get the legal right to a fast broadband connection, with a guaranteed minimum speed of 10Mbps.
However, properties in the “remotest areas” of the UK, the speech outlined, may be expected to contribute to the cost of broadband installation.
Companies, the speech continued, will now need to get consent before sending out promotional spam emails and transgressors may be subject to fines.
Finally, it was announced that websites containing materials of a pornographic nature will now be required to verify users’ age before granting access.