英国政府表示，今年年底之前，自动驾驶车辆可能会被允许上路。英国交通部（The Department for Transport）表示，自动车道保持系统（ALKS）将会是第一种合法的免握方向盘的驾驶方式。

 

This plan is being billed as a first step towards allowing self-driving cars on British roads, but in practical terms, it's less than revolutionary.

这项计划被宣传为允许自动驾驶车辆在英国道路上行驶的第一步，但从实际角度讲，该计划并不算革命性。

 

If it goes ahead, it'll allow cars with automated¹ lane-keeping technology to be used legally on motorways² without input³ from the driver at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour, provided the technology being used has official approval.

如果计划如期推行，装载了自动车道保持技术的汽车就可以合法在高速公路上行驶，只要时速不超过37英里，司机就可以不用控制方向盘，不过前提是所使用的技术已得到官方批准。

 

Yet finding cars able to benefit from the change will be difficult at first. Many current vehicles already have the ability to steer⁴, accelerate and brake for themselves on motorways. But crucially, they still need to be monitored by the driver.

然而，一开始很难找到能从这个变化中受益的汽车。许多现有车辆已经能够在高速公路上自动转向、加速和刹车。但关键的是，这些车辆仍然需要司机的密切注视。

 

The government believes that in the longer term, self-driving technology will make the roads safer and reduce emissions⁵. But the AA has warned that more testing is needed and that we should not be in a race to take drivers' hands off the wheel.

英国政府认为，从长远来看，自动驾驶技术将改善道路安全，减少排放。但英国汽车协会警告，需要进行更多测试，而且我们不应急着让司机的双手离开方向盘。

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