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Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Mirror's Daily Digest - New Madeleine McCann search update to driverless taxis
In this Tuesday's Mirror Daily Digest, we've pulled together the biggest stories of the day from Madeleine McCann search updates to the latest on driverless taxis Welcome to the Mirror's Daily Digest, where we'll be pulling together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Politics teams and more. This Tuesday, we're featuring everything from the latest search updates on the Madeleine McCann case to driverless taxis which will be brought to the UK next year. Our Showbiz team has covered Strictly star Oti Mabuse's heartache as she travelled to west Africa to meet stricken mums nursing premature babies. Meanwhile, our News team has been closely following the couple who have been charged with trying to smuggle cannabis into the UK after being stopped at Heathrow Airport. Driverless Uber taxis coming to UK in months - all you need to know This morning, our Politics team reported that driverless taxi and bus services will be brought to the UK next year. The Government will bring forward self-driving commercial pilots on England's roads to Spring 2026, transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed today. Firms will be able to pilot small scale 'taxi- and bus-like' services without a driver for the first time, which could be available to members of the public to book via an app. Uber will trial robotaxis - autonomous cars - in a partnership with UK AI firm Wayve in London as soon as next spring. Ministers said the driverless car expansion could create 38,000 jobs and a £42billion industry. A potential wider rollout is expected when the full Automated Vehicles (AV) Act becomes law from the second half of 2027. Driverless vehicles aim to reduce human error, which contributes to 88% of all road collisions. Unlike human drivers, AVs can never get distracted or tired and they won't drink-drive or speed. Oti Mabuse's baby heartache - 'I could only touch her through glass window' In other news, our Showbiz team exclusively covered Oti Mabuse's heartache after the Strictly Come Dancing star travelled to west Africa to meet stricken mums nursing premature tots. The pro dancer, 34, returned to a neonatal unit for the first time since she endured a 16-hour labour with her daughter, who arrived two months early, weighing 3lbs, in 2023. The baby spent the next six weeks in intensive care at University College London Hospital after she was born with an infection and Oti developed sepsis. Baby and mother recovered, but the Dancing On Ice judge has revealed her trauma after visiting a UNICEF-funded specialist clinic in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) in Africa. Reflecting on her own experience, Oti said: 'I remember the only way I could touch my child and have skin-on-skin was through this glass window – there's no mother who wants to experience that.' According to UNICEF, globally in 2024 an estimated 4.8 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday, including 2.3 million newborns who died within the first 28 days of life. In Cote D'Ivoire, lack of access to specialised care is one of the reasons that prematurity is the leading cause of death for children under five. Madeleine McCann cops find 'clothing and bones' as they probe samples from dig In a breaking update, our News team reported that police are investigating samples of 'clothes and bones' found in last week's search for Madeleine McCann, it is claimed. On Thursday, a team of German and Portuguese investigators wrapped up a three-day search along a 120-acre stretch of land in Lagos, Portugal, in their latest attempt to find new evidence against prime suspect Christian Brueckner. Initial reports suggested the operation - which took place 30 miles from where the three-year-old went missing in May 2007 - had failed to turn up any new leads. But now, it has been claimed that fragments of clothing and bones are to undergo testing this week after being uncovered at the scene. During the search - the first to take place since 2023 - crews spent three days scouring scrubland and abandoned structures, including a derelict farmhouse. A source told Berlin Morning Post: 'Several objects have apparently been discovered, which are now being examined in more detail by the police in the laboratory. 'As Portuguese media report, clothing debris and bones were found, among other things. The investigators have not officially commented on whether the finds could have anything to do with Madeleine's disappearance but that is clearly their hope.' Met Office details exact day half a month's rain to batter UK in three hours After a brief sunny spell, Brits can expect around half a typical month's rainfall across parts of the UK this week, the Met Office has forecasted. The "intense rainfall" - of up to 40mm - is anticipated across south Wales and Southwest England and will be slow moving, lingering into Thursday. Thunderstorms are also likely during the deluge, which the Met Office says is expected on Wednesday evening. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Mike Silverstone, said: "After largely benign weather early in the week, some intense, thundery showers will move in on Wednesday evening. These thunderstorms are being triggered by some warm, humid air that is moving into the UK from the south. "The intense rainfall could see 20-40mm accumulating over just a few hours, which could cause some disruption. While there are no severe weather warnings issued at the moment, it is possible thunderstorm warnings may be issued this week." Brit couple found with £1m of cannabis in luggage in latest 'drug mule' fears Finally, a couple have been charged with trying to smuggle cannabis valued at £1million into the UK after being stopped at Heathrow Airport, our News team have reported. Sian Warren, 34, and Daniel McDonald, 36, were on their way back from Thailand when officers from the National Crime Agency reportedly found more than 51kg of cannabis in their luggage. It is understood that the drug was in four cases that the pair were carrying. They appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court where they have been charged with importing Class B drugs and have been bailed under curfew ahead of a plea hearing on June 26 at Isleworth Crown Court. Warren and McDonald, from Salford, went to Bangkok on holiday last month and Warren's dad Tony told The Sun that there must have been a mistake. He said: 'Sian's not brought anything back, definitely not. She had her own suitcase with clothes in it.'
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Driverless Uber taxis coming to UK in months - all you need to know
Firms will be able to pilot small scale self-driving 'taxi- and bus-like' services for the first time, which could be available to members of the public to book via an app Driverless taxi and bus services will be brought to the UK next year. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed today that the Government will bring forward self-driving commercial pilots on England's roads to Spring 2026. Firms will be able to pilot small scale 'taxi- and bus-like' services without a driver for the first time, which could be available to members of the public to book via an app. Uber will trial robotaxis - autonomous cars - in a partnership with UK AI firm Wayve in London as soon as next spring. Ministers said the driverless car expansion could create 38,000 jobs and a £42billion industry. A potential wider rollout is expected when the full Automated Vehicles (AV) Act becomes law from the second half of 2027. Driverless vehicles aim to reduce human error, which contributes to 88% of all road collisions. Unlike human drivers, AVs can never get distracted or tired and they won't drink-drive or speed. The AV Act will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as competent and careful human drivers. They will undergo rigorous safety tests, and be subject to consent from local authorities, before being allowed on roads. The Department for Transport said self-driving vehicles can help reduce deaths and injuries by having faster reaction times than humans, and by being trained on large numbers of driving scenarios, including learning from real-world incidents. Driverless vehicles can also improve transport for millions of people. Ministers said they could add new public transport options in rural areas to boost connectivity for local communities, and improve mobility, accessibility and independence for those unable to drive. The announcement comes during London Tech Week as part of the Department's new Transport AI Action Plan, which sets out how the Government is using AI to drive economic growth and reduce traffic congestion. Ms Alexander said: 'The future of transport is arriving. Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology. 'With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry, and drive innovation to deliver our Plan for Change.' Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: "We can't afford to take a back seat on AI, unless it's on a self-driving bus. It's great to see the UK storming ahead as a global leader in using this technology - making our roads safer, travel easier and driving growth by spurring innovation across the country. 'That's why we're bringing timelines forward today, placing the UK firmly in the fast lane and creating opportunity along the way so people across the country benefit." Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, said: 'Britain's self-driving vehicle revolution moves one step closer, with today's announcements putting the country on track to reap the road safety and socio-economic benefits this technology can deliver. 'Pilot rollout of commercial self-driving services from next year will widen public access to mobility, while the consultation will ensure the technology is deployed in a safe and responsible way. These latest measures will help Britain remain a world leader in the development and introduction of self-driving vehicles, a manifest application of AI at its finest.'
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
UK set to approve driverless cars by exact year as approval delayed
Government and industry leaders remain optimistic about the benefits of autonomous vehicles despite the recent pushback as the sector is projected to be worth £42 billion The UK government has officially delayed the approval and rollout of fully driverless cars, pushing the expected date to the second half of 2027, marking a significant shift from previous administration's targets, which said autonomous vehicles were "set to be on roads by 2026'. The Automated Vehicles (AV) Act, which became law in May 2024, was initially hailed as a major step forward for the UK's self-driving car ambitions, establishing a legal framework stating that when a vehicle is in self-driving mode, the manufacturer — not the human occupant — is liable for its behaviour, with the intention of paving the way for the introduction of autonomous vehicles as early as 2026. Several factors have contributed to the government's decision to push back the approval date, with safety concerns playing a major role. Recent incidents involving robotaxis in other countries — such as the suspension of General Motors' Cruise service at the end of last year in San Francisco following safety issues — have intensified caution. The government is prioritising a 'safety-led' approach to avoid similar problems in the UK. Regulatory complexity is another challenge. While the AV Act established the legal foundation, secondary legislation is still required to detail operational standards, insurance requirements and accident liability. Without these, fully driverless cars cannot be legally deployed. Public apprehension remains high, with a 2024 YouGov poll revealing 37% of Britons would feel 'very unsafe' in a driverless car, so building trust is seen as essential. There is also a gap between industry readiness and regulation, with companies including Uber and UK-based Wayve claiming they are technologically ready to deploy driverless taxis immediately. However, without the necessary regulatory approvals, these services cannot launch. Senior Vice President of Mobility at Uber, Andrew Macdonald, told the BBC: "We're ready to launch robotaxis in the UK as soon as the regulatory environment is ready for us.' In relation to safety issues, he added: "The reality is that one accident is too many. That said, with EV, human drivers… we operate in the real world and stuff happens." As of May 2025, only advanced driver-assistance features such as lane assist and traffic jam autopilot are permitted, but a human driver must be ready to take control at all times. Several firms, including Uber, are actively testing more advanced systems and lobbying for faster regulatory progress. Despite the delay, the government and industry leaders remain optimistic about the economic and safety benefits of autonomous vehicles. The sector is projected to be worth £42 billion and create 38,000 jobs by 2035. However, industry groups including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Zenzic and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) have warned that further delays could undermine the UK's competitive position and risk missing out on global leadership in self-driving technology. The UK Department for Transport said in a statement: "We are working quickly and will implement self-driving vehicle legislation in the second half of 2027. We are also exploring options for short-term trials and pilots to create the right conditions for a thriving self-driving sector.'
