We are hiring! Are you an experienced technician? Join our outstanding team »
We are hiring! Are you an experienced technician? Join our outstanding team »
While we’re still a few years away from seeing driverless cars and other types of autonomous vehicles becoming commonplace on the roads, the last few years have seen big advances in the industry.
Manufacturers such as Tesla have made significant strides in the sector, and we’re starting to see the first movement towards driverless cars emerge among motorists. Presently, you’re unable to purchase an all-singing all-dancing autonomous vehicle, but there are many cars that now come fitted with advanced driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings and parking assistance.
These systems are known as level 1 and level 2 autonomous vehicles, and still require the driver to be fully concentrated with hands on the wheel and in charge of the majority of the driving functions. However, the hope is that in the coming years innovation in the industry will mean we reach level 5 – meaning the car will be able to take charge of entire journeys, allowing the driver to read, watch TV and even have a nap.
Before we reach that stage though, legislation needs to be drawn up to account for autonomous vehicles. Recently, a new report has outlined significant legal changes needed for driverless cars, and in this article, we’ll discuss what they are and what they could mean for the future of the industry.
While the entire point of driverless cars is to reduce accidents and make the roads safer, after over 100 years of humans taking sole responsibility for driving, handing over the reins to a machine has unsurprisingly made a few people rather jumpy.
The biggest concern of the naysayers is that a machine will never be able to replicate human instinct when behind the wheel, and faults and accidents are therefore inevitable.
With this in mind, a new report from the Law Commission for England, Wales and Scotland has stated that in any accident that occurs involving a driverless car, it will not be the responsibility of the person who owns it. Instead, liability will fall at the feet of the manufacturer who put together the system. As well as this, drivers will instead be described as the ‘user in charge’, meaning legal responsibility is very different.
While they’ll still be responsible for things such as insurance, tax and ensuring passengers are wearing seatbelts, any accidents, speeding, skipped traffic lights and more will no longer be the responsibility of the traditional driver when using an autonomous vehicle.
Alongside these legal changes, the report also calls for greater clarity on what constitutes a driverless car. Currently, the industry operates with a five-step sliding scale depending on the functionality of the vehicle. However, the report requests a more binary definition, insisting that a car is either autonomous or not.
This means that if a car simply has advanced driver-assistance systems in place, it will no longer fall under the autonomous umbrella. Likewise, if the driver is ever required to intervene, such as in extreme weather conditions or emergency situations, it also will not be classified as autonomous and usual driving rules will apply.
In many ways, Australia is ahead of the curve when it comes to anticipating legal issues that may arise from the development of driverless cars.
Down under, they’re working on a system called C-ITS that will give vehicles the ability to communicate with one another, as well as key road infrastructures such as markings on the road and signage. This means that vehicles will be far safer when out and about, and will be able to detect hazards and prevent collisions.
While C-ITS will help revolutionise Australian driving, it also creates a number of complex legal problems due to the vast amount of data it requires to operate.
Privacy is undoubtedly a key concern here, as the data generated by C-ITS is classified as personal information. Some autonomous vehicles are also set to include health sensors that detect drivers’ alertness and facial expressions – meaning in some cases the data will also be regarded as sensitive. With this in mind, it’s as yet unclear where this data will be stored and who will have access to it – something that is currently being explored to ensure it will meet all legal requirements.
Cybersecurity has also been mooted as a cause for concern. With autonomous vehicles relying on network connectivity to work effectively, there is a worry that hackers may maliciously access the systems and therefore have control of infrastructure or even people’s vehicles. The Australian government has created cybersecurity legislation for other industries, such as gas, electricity and water utilities, that places responsibility for the cyber integrity on the owner of the company and it’s likely similar laws will be introduced for autonomous vehicles.
Whether your vehicle has advanced driver-assistance systems in place or is not even close to being considered autonomous, the team here at The Windscreen Company is on hand to ensure your vehicle’s safety with a range of windscreen services. Offering repairs and full windscreen replacements across the South East and West Midlands, our team provides a mobile service that can head to your location and get you back on the road as soon as possible. For more information, get in touch with us today.
The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.
© The Windscreen Company 2024. All Rights Reserved.
The Windscreen Company is a registered company in England.
Registered Number: 3545701 VAT Number: 720 0628 78
By clicking "Accept All Cookies", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, assist in our marketing efforts, and for personalised advertising.