As robotaxis continue trials in London, an independent research group thinks the UK needs to answer some serious questions before heading any further down the road. To kick off, the sovereignty question, or "Will Britain become dependent on autonomous vehicle services for any key activities and what fallback options will exist if a supplier fails or withdraws?" as the Institute for Driverless Transport (IfDT) puts it. Another question concerns employment: "To what extent does professional driving form part of the UK’s employment safety net and how will this function be recreated if demand for professional drivers is significantly reduced?" The objective for IfDT — an independent UK research and convening body focused on the consequences of autonomous vehicles — is to cast the net a bit wider than simply thinking about whether the software is sufficient to navigate London’s wiggly streets and narrow alleys. The research draws on work with operators trying to bring AVs to London and the regulators responsible for policy. It also relied on more than 30 conversations with councils, operators, industry, unions, charities, insurers, lawyers and universities. James Hutt, IfDT co-founder, said: "What struck us most in the interviews was how far this reaches: into jobs, public services, the built environment and national resilience…