Ministers likely to support law change to allow delivery robots on England's paths

Ministers may support a law change to allow delivery robots on England's paths.

Published 29 June 2026 165 words
TECHNOLOGY A2
Ministers likely to support law change to allow delivery robots on England's paths

The government in England is thinking about changing the law so that small robots can deliver things on the streets. These robots are used for delivering food or shopping. They are programmed to drive on the paths where people walk.

Some people are worried about this plan. They think the robots will make the paths too busy, especially for older people or people who cannot see well. Campaigners say the robots could be a problem for people with walking frames or guide dogs.

These robots are already being used in some towns in England, like Cambridge and Bristol. A company called Starship Technologies wants to have more than 10,000 robots in England. They want to make them in the UK too.

A charity called Living Streets says the robots are already causing problems. They believe paths should be only for people. They are asking the government to be careful and think about safety first.

Vocabulary

deliver — to take goods or items to a person or place.
programmed — told a computer or machine exactly what to do.
busy — having a lot of people or things.
campaigners — people who try to persuade others to support a cause or change.
charity — an organization that gives help to people who need it.
safety — the condition of being protected from harm or danger.

Discussion Questions

  1. What are the delivery robots used for?
  2. Why are some people worried about the robots on the paths?
  3. What does the charity Living Streets believe paths should be used for?

Based on an article from The Guardian.

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