Business secretary Vince Cable has given the green light for driverless cars to take to UK roads from January 2015.æ UK cities can now bid for a share of a £10 million competition to host a trial for the new cars. The government has called on Britain's cities to join together with both business and research organisations to put forward proposals, with the aim being to become a test location. Up to three cities are to be selected to host the trials in the new year, with each project expected to last between 18 and 36 months, starting in January. Ministers have also launched a review to examine current road regulations and establish how the UK can remain at the forefront of driverless car technology as the technology awareness increases. The review will cover two areas of driverless technology: cars with a qualified driver who can operate the car when needed and fully autonomous vehicles where there is no driver full stop. Speaking at a vehicle engineering consultancy, Mr Cable said: 'The excellence of our scientists and engineers has established the UK as a pioneer in the development of driverless vehicles through pilot projects. 'Today's announcement will see driverless cars take to our streets in less than six months, putting us at the forefront of this transformational technology and opening up new opportunities for our economy and society.î The driverless cars competition is being funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill and the Department for Transport.æ The UK's innovation agency _ the Technology Strategy Board _ is also a partner. Successful projects need to be business-led whilst demonstrating close collaboration with partners such as technology developers, manufacturers and supply chain companies. BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: 'It's clearly very early days, but the right legislation and incentives could help our members add driverless vehicles to their fleets, enabling many people to have greater access to this technology.î The Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) has already said that the initiative will be hampered by daily roadworks, potholes, worn road markings, failed traffic lights and burst mains. George Lee, national director of the RSMA, said: 'By 2025, at least half the travel on Europe's roads will be in vehicles that can read the road ahead including markings and signs,î 'But vehicles, like drivers, cannot function if basic road markings and signs are non-existent, non-compliant, worn out, obscured, inconsistent or confusing.î