Autonomous-Vehicle Market Expected to be Hampered by Legislation
Legislation and liability uncertainties are expected to be the main barriers for autonomous vehicles becoming more widely adopted, according to a new report.
Current legislation has been predominantly on a local, “less competent” level due to the lack of a national or international guidance, according to a study by ABI Research.
This uncertainty about liability has kept many manufacturers from pushing autonomous technology, “fearing autonomous driving will further shift liability from the driver to the car maker,” according to the report.
It also points to a recently amended United Nations convention on road traffic as a notable exception to addressing the technology, despite the condition the driver should be able to override or turn off the autonomous features.
“The role of governments will be critical, especially for proposing and regulating liability limiting and/or sharing mechanisms, including taking on some of the liability themselves. . . . in order to reduce legal exposure of the industry which threatens to stifle innovation,” according to the report.
