Proposed UK Law: Humans Not Liable for Self-Driving Vehicle Accidents

pcmag.com:

Self-driving cars could begin operating on major UK highways within the next year ahead of wider 2025 rollout, but humans won't be liable for accidents that occur when the vehicle is in control, according to proposed regulations.

According to details released(Opens in a new window) by the UK government, "manufacturers are responsible for the vehicle’s actions when self-driving, meaning a human driver would not be liable for incidents related to driving while the vehicle is in control of driving."

The draft legislation is part of a £100 million ($118 million) plan aimed at "sparking a transport revolution" to improve UK road safety and create thousands of new jobs across the nation.

"The benefits of self-driving vehicles have the potential to be huge," UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement. "Most importantly, they're expected to make our roads safer by reducing the dangers of driver error in road collisions."

Vehicles that can drive themselves on freeways could be available to buy within the next year for those with a valid driver's license. Other autonomous options, like public buses or delivery trucks, are expected to hit roads by 2025(Opens in a new window).

"It is still quite a big leap from assisted driving, where the driver is still in control, to self-driving, where the car takes control," according to Edmund King, president of AA, a British motoring association. "It is important that the government does study how these vehicles would interact with other road users on different roads and changing weather conditions. However, the ultimate prize, in terms of saving thousands of lives and improving the mobility of the elderly and the less mobile, is well worth pursuing."

The UK government is hopeful