The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is calling on government to embed technician competence within the forthcoming Statement of Safety Principles for automated vehicles - warning that without clear professional standards in law, public confidence in the technology could be undermined. It has proposed that its existing IMI TechSafe accreditation provides a ready-made, proven framework that it believes could be swiftly implemented to ensure technicians are properly trained to maintain, repair, calibrate and update automated vehicles throughout their operational life. “The race is on for automated vehicles to be more widely used on UK roads, but the government must urgently address the skills needed to maintain, repair, calibrate and update these vehicles throughout their operational life,” said Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI. “Our concern is that the gap will widen as automated vehicles become more widely used on UK roads,” Connor added. “The government must act now to mitigate this risk, which has the potential to compromise both safety and consumer confidence.