Sir Keir Starmer is planning a change in pavement law to allow the use of delivery robots before he steps down as Prime Minister. Ministers have confirmed they will support the legalisation of these devices, which currently operate without authority, drawing sharp criticism from safety campaigners.
Government Backs Robot Delivery Legalisation
The move would amend the 1835 Highways Act, which currently bans "carriages" from pavements. A Labour Party government spokesperson stated: "We welcome innovation and advances in technology have the potential to boost our economy, but it's vital the safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users is put first. We will update the law for delivery robots as soon as parliamentary time allows and following public consultation."
However, Living Streets, a charity advocating for pedestrian rights, has written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander urging caution. The charity is launching a campaign called "Pavement Overload" to highlight the increasing congestion on footways.
Safety Concerns for Vulnerable Pedestrians
Catherine Woodhead, chief executive of Living Streets, said: "Delivery robots add to existing pavement congestion, present navigation hazards that are not reliably detectable by white cane or guide dog, and occupy space that accessible design and decades of campaigning have worked hard to protect." She added: "Our pavements are already lousy with dangerous obstacles, from pavement parking to wheelie bins, preventing many disabled people from leaving their homes."
The charity warns that the robots pose particular risks for wheelchair users and blind individuals. "This is especially dangerous when they may be a wheelchair user with no dropped kerb nearby or a blind person with a guide dog trained not to take them onto the road," the charity stated.
Demands for Pedestrian-First Consultation
Living Streets is demanding that any consultation on changing the law for powered devices on pavements must be "designed with pedestrian safety and accessibility as baseline requirements, not as afterthoughts." The charity is deeply concerned that delivery robots already operate on pavements without legal authority and urges the Department for Transport to resist legalisation.
Woodhead emphasised: "We believe that pavements are for people, and the operation of robots puts the safety of pedestrians at risk, particularly for those with mobility issues." The government has not yet set a date for the public consultation but confirmed it will proceed once parliamentary time allows.
