Sir Keir Starmer is set to introduce new legislation permitting the use of delivery robots on pavements before he steps down as Prime Minister. While ministers support the change as a step forward for technological innovation, it has raised significant concerns among safety advocates and disability campaigners.
Living Streets, a pedestrian charity, has urged Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to proceed with caution. The organisation recently launched a campaign named Pavement Overload to draw attention to the growing congestion on footways. They highlight the particular dangers faced by wheelchair users without accessible dropped kerbs and visually impaired people reliant on guide dogs, which may struggle to detect robotic devices.
“Delivery robots add to existing pavement congestion and present navigation hazards that are not reliably detectable by white cane or guide dog,” warns Living Streets. “They also take up space that accessible design and years of campaigning have worked hard to protect.”
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Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive of Living Streets, expressed deep concern that such robots are already operating on pavements without legal authority. She urged the Department for Transport to resist efforts to legalise these devices, emphasizing that pavements must remain safe and accessible, especially for people with mobility challenges.
“Our footpaths are already cluttered with dangerous obstacles like pavement parking and wheelie bins, which prevent many disabled individuals from getting out of their homes safely,” Woodhead added.
A spokesperson for the Labour Party acknowledged the potential economic benefits of delivery robots but stressed that pedestrian safety must be the top priority. The party plans to update laws governing delivery robots following public consultation, as parliamentary time allows.
Living Streets insists that any review of pavement regulations should prioritise pedestrian safety and accessibility from the outset, rather than treating these concerns as afterthoughts.
Currently, the 1835 Highways Act prohibits “carriages” on pavements, and the proposed reform seeks to modernise these regulations to accommodate new technology while addressing safety issues.