Driverless Cars and The Law
Discussion
From the latest edition of Local Transport Today.
Driving pleasure not included.
Towns and cities are being invited to bid to become testbeds for driverless vehicles as ministers seek to position the UK as a world leader in the technology. The £10m Government competition will see up to three towns and cities in the UK selected to host trials. Bids must be business-led but include a local authority partner.
The Government says projects could start next January and run for between 18 and 36 months. “Driverless cars will improve people’s lives and the way they travel, improve the world’s towns and cities, create opportunities for the UK automotive sector and related industries, and have a large impact on the way towns are designed and engineered,” says the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), which is running the competition with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the DfT.
Only “UK-based” companies and research organisations can apply for the funding. The trials must consist of both passenger cars that can operate part of the time on roads without driver control and at least one other form of ground-based urban transportation (excluding light rail, heavy rail and guided rail systems) that can operate part of the time without driver control.
The TSB says the trials should focus not on technology but on “building a deep understanding of the impact of driverless vehicles on road users and wider society.” Other research aims include understanding the impact of driverless vehicles on congestion and gathering information for legislators and insurers. “We would anticipate that the testing of driverless cars with high automation would take place largely on existing roads and the vehicle would have to be capable of interacting with the existing infrastructure,” says the DfT. The deadline for applications is 01 October.
The DfT has just launched a review of current road regulations to ensure an “appropriate regime” for testing driverless cars. The review will cover two types of driverless technology:
• high automation – cars with a qualified driver who can take over control of the driverless car
• full automation – vehicles where there is no need for a driver
A call for evidence identifies some of the issues the review will consider. On driving laws it states: “Where the driver of a vehicle with high automation is seen with both hands off the steering wheel, it may be they should have a defence against the possibility of being accused of careless driving simply for that reason. However, if the vehicle is wandering across the road then they could be liable, and we would not expect such a person to be consuming food or operating a handheld mobile phone, as his prime role is monitoring the vehicle.”
The DfT 'Call for Evidence' asks for views on whether autonomous vehicles should be highlighted in some way to other road users. “Other road users may be surprised to encounter a car where the driver is not obviously ‘driving’ and therefore might not react to signals such as hand gestures,” it says. Options could include a “warning signal” on the car showing autonomous operation or a distinguishing sign (different number plate, sticker on windscreen, etc.) indicating the potential capability of autonomous operation.
On accident liability, the DfT says arrangements will be the same as those that already apply to technologies such as anti-lock braking systems and automatic cruise control. “It is anticipated that the regime of strict manufacturer liability would continue to apply.”
The DfT says devolution has made creating a UK-wide environment for autonomous vehicles more complex. “In a sense the Westminster Government can only guarantee to deliver a testing regime for England, although the strong intention and aspiration is to reach agreement UK-wide.”
The review will report at the end of the year. Submissions to the review are invited by 19 September.
Review of the legislative and regulatory framework for testing driverless cars: discussion document and call for evidence is available at the link below.
http://tinyurl.com/oup655b
If we're going to be a leader in this field, surely there's some catching up to do as there have already been live broadcasts from Google's driverless cars stateside.
The legal ramifications of strict liability extended to this degree seem to be treated summarily, but then IANAL.
Driving pleasure not included.
Towns and cities are being invited to bid to become testbeds for driverless vehicles as ministers seek to position the UK as a world leader in the technology. The £10m Government competition will see up to three towns and cities in the UK selected to host trials. Bids must be business-led but include a local authority partner.
The Government says projects could start next January and run for between 18 and 36 months. “Driverless cars will improve people’s lives and the way they travel, improve the world’s towns and cities, create opportunities for the UK automotive sector and related industries, and have a large impact on the way towns are designed and engineered,” says the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), which is running the competition with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the DfT.
Only “UK-based” companies and research organisations can apply for the funding. The trials must consist of both passenger cars that can operate part of the time on roads without driver control and at least one other form of ground-based urban transportation (excluding light rail, heavy rail and guided rail systems) that can operate part of the time without driver control.
The TSB says the trials should focus not on technology but on “building a deep understanding of the impact of driverless vehicles on road users and wider society.” Other research aims include understanding the impact of driverless vehicles on congestion and gathering information for legislators and insurers. “We would anticipate that the testing of driverless cars with high automation would take place largely on existing roads and the vehicle would have to be capable of interacting with the existing infrastructure,” says the DfT. The deadline for applications is 01 October.
The DfT has just launched a review of current road regulations to ensure an “appropriate regime” for testing driverless cars. The review will cover two types of driverless technology:
• high automation – cars with a qualified driver who can take over control of the driverless car
• full automation – vehicles where there is no need for a driver
A call for evidence identifies some of the issues the review will consider. On driving laws it states: “Where the driver of a vehicle with high automation is seen with both hands off the steering wheel, it may be they should have a defence against the possibility of being accused of careless driving simply for that reason. However, if the vehicle is wandering across the road then they could be liable, and we would not expect such a person to be consuming food or operating a handheld mobile phone, as his prime role is monitoring the vehicle.”
The DfT 'Call for Evidence' asks for views on whether autonomous vehicles should be highlighted in some way to other road users. “Other road users may be surprised to encounter a car where the driver is not obviously ‘driving’ and therefore might not react to signals such as hand gestures,” it says. Options could include a “warning signal” on the car showing autonomous operation or a distinguishing sign (different number plate, sticker on windscreen, etc.) indicating the potential capability of autonomous operation.
On accident liability, the DfT says arrangements will be the same as those that already apply to technologies such as anti-lock braking systems and automatic cruise control. “It is anticipated that the regime of strict manufacturer liability would continue to apply.”
The DfT says devolution has made creating a UK-wide environment for autonomous vehicles more complex. “In a sense the Westminster Government can only guarantee to deliver a testing regime for England, although the strong intention and aspiration is to reach agreement UK-wide.”
The review will report at the end of the year. Submissions to the review are invited by 19 September.
Review of the legislative and regulatory framework for testing driverless cars: discussion document and call for evidence is available at the link below.
http://tinyurl.com/oup655b
If we're going to be a leader in this field, surely there's some catching up to do as there have already been live broadcasts from Google's driverless cars stateside.
The legal ramifications of strict liability extended to this degree seem to be treated summarily, but then IANAL.
turbobloke said:
• high automation – cars with a qualified driver who can take over control of the driverless car
However, if the vehicle is wandering across the road then they could be liable, and we would not expect such a person to be consuming food or operating a handheld mobile phone, as his prime role is monitoring the vehicle.”
Sounds mind boggling boring to me to be monitoring the vehicle whilst it is in high automation mode. Having worked in an environment where for the vast majority of the time control is automated I have noticed it takes a certain amount of time to react when a incident happens requiring manual intervention. However, if the vehicle is wandering across the road then they could be liable, and we would not expect such a person to be consuming food or operating a handheld mobile phone, as his prime role is monitoring the vehicle.”
The US light aviation industry all but disappeared due to rising claims against the aircraft manufacturers who were held responsible for incidents even where the pilot may have been negligent. Big names like Cessna and Piper suffered huge reductions in production and sales.
Given the enthusiasm of Americans for litigation it is surprising that driverless cars are even getting off the ground.
Considering the highly automated type of car, the technology may be impressive, but where is the saving that makes it cost effective? The driver still has to have a licence, must be ready to take over and is not even allowed to use the phone. He definitely cannot sleep in the back while the car takes him home from the pub. I just don't see where the market will come from.
Given the enthusiasm of Americans for litigation it is surprising that driverless cars are even getting off the ground.
Considering the highly automated type of car, the technology may be impressive, but where is the saving that makes it cost effective? The driver still has to have a licence, must be ready to take over and is not even allowed to use the phone. He definitely cannot sleep in the back while the car takes him home from the pub. I just don't see where the market will come from.
speedking31 said:
I just don't see where the market will come from.
It's looking more and more like those control freaks in the DfT getting all orgasmic with their utopian vision of total control.It's started already with their "smart" motorways, making you drive in a manner they consider suitable.
They've just commissioned the HADECS motorway speed camera, but the goons seem to have forgotten that driverless cars will kill the revenue stream these cameras are designed to harvest.
Delicious irony, what?
speedking31 said:
Considering the highly automated type of car, the technology may be impressive, but where is the saving that makes it cost effective? The driver still has to have a licence, must be ready to take over and is not even allowed to use the phone. He definitely cannot sleep in the back while the car takes him home from the pub. I just don't see where the market will come from.
Completely missing the point of what is going on hereNo one is trying to invent a self driving car that needs a driver, but at the same time no one is going to simply let completely driver-less cars out onto the roads without any safe guards. So this is a transitional measure, allowing driver-less cars to be on the road before they are proven to be at-least as safe as a licensed driver, and have no unforeseen circumstances.
Once they have proven themselves a transition towards fully driver-less cars can begin
I suppose its similar to the automated trains on the London Underground. Still have a driver on hand poised over the controller waiting for something to happen. End of the day its his train and he is responsible for it and its actions. I presume the car driving automation will be the same.
The tube train driver is mainly there in case of an emergency in a tunnel. He or she is trained to deal with that situation (one reason why it's not the no brainer job that people sometimes suggest). The DLR does not have that many tunnels and so the trains are driverless most of the time.
rewc said:
Any guess at the time line for the transition to fully driver-less cars to be complete?
I predict 5 years until the optimists are generally agreeing the technology is real world ready, so maybe call that 2020another 5 years to start to convince the skeptics and get the legislation in place in some of the countries more keen to adopt the technology, so about 2025 is probably when we start to see it go mainstream in a few countries, then probably another 5 years while other countries catch up, so 2030 is when i think it will be considered a fully establish technology globally with more countries than not accepting them.
Of course any prediction about the future, especially 10 years plus can easily be derailed by a large unforeseen change
There are a lot of drivers out there who I'd rather were passengers. We've an ageing population, these things have the potential to allow a lot of elderly folk to keep their mobility without being a risk or a nuisance on the road. It won't take long before these things are essentially "perfect" drivers - and for those of us who retain manual cars, they will at least be consistent, predictable and not prone to irrational human behaviour. They're not going to floor it when you overtake, or move into your path, or tailgate you, or make risky decisions.
otolith said:
There are a lot of drivers out there who I'd rather were passengers. We've an ageing population, these things have the potential to allow a lot of elderly folk to keep their mobility without being a risk or a nuisance on the road. It won't take long before these things are essentially "perfect" drivers - and for those of us who retain manual cars, they will at least be consistent, predictable and not prone to irrational human behaviour. They're not going to floor it when you overtake, or move into your path, or tailgate you, or make risky decisions.
Possibly so, or as close to that combination as may be feasible, but for now it's the unpredictability of their environment that's causing consternation with the Google cars. On one live broadcast the designated non-driver/driver of the high automation (but not full automation) vehicle had to intervene because of the irrational and unpredictable behaviour of pedestrians. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff