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Who is responsible for a driverless car accident? | Who is responsible for a driverless car accident? |
(6 days later) | |
Volvo says it will accept full liability for accidents involving its driverless cars, making it "one of the first" car companies to do so. | Volvo says it will accept full liability for accidents involving its driverless cars, making it "one of the first" car companies to do so. |
It joins Google, which has made similar claims. | |
Volvo says it is trying to expedite regulation in the US, where "a patchwork" of rules is holding back the industry. | Volvo says it is trying to expedite regulation in the US, where "a patchwork" of rules is holding back the industry. |
Uncertainty over liability for a driverless car crash is seen as one of the biggest barriers to adoption. | Uncertainty over liability for a driverless car crash is seen as one of the biggest barriers to adoption. |
Why is Volvo doing this? | Why is Volvo doing this? |
In a speech in Washington DC on Thursday, the president of Volvo Cars, Hakan Samuelsson, said that the US is currently "the most progressive country in the world in autonomous driving". | In a speech in Washington DC on Thursday, the president of Volvo Cars, Hakan Samuelsson, said that the US is currently "the most progressive country in the world in autonomous driving". |
However, he believes it "risks losing its leading position" because of the lack of Federal guidelines for the "testing and certification" of autonomous vehicles. | However, he believes it "risks losing its leading position" because of the lack of Federal guidelines for the "testing and certification" of autonomous vehicles. |
Instead, car makers face inconsistent rules from state to state, which makes it harder to roll out their technology. | Instead, car makers face inconsistent rules from state to state, which makes it harder to roll out their technology. |
For instance, only a handful of US states such as California and Nevada allow the testing of autonomous vehicles on public roads - and even then rules around certification vary. | For instance, only a handful of US states such as California and Nevada allow the testing of autonomous vehicles on public roads - and even then rules around certification vary. |
Regulation is also slowed by unanswered ethical and legal concerns, particularly when it comes to liability for driverless car accidents. | Regulation is also slowed by unanswered ethical and legal concerns, particularly when it comes to liability for driverless car accidents. |
And the situation is "even worse" in Europe, according to Volvo's chief technical officer, Erik Coelingh. | And the situation is "even worse" in Europe, according to Volvo's chief technical officer, Erik Coelingh. |
Why is the issue of liability so important? | Why is the issue of liability so important? |
As with any new form of technology, it is important to get the regulation governing its implementation right. | As with any new form of technology, it is important to get the regulation governing its implementation right. |
Mr Coelingh told the BBC: "Everybody is aware of the fact that driverless technology will never be perfect - one day there will be an accident. | Mr Coelingh told the BBC: "Everybody is aware of the fact that driverless technology will never be perfect - one day there will be an accident. |
"So the question becomes who is responsible and we think it's unrealistic to put that responsibility on our customers." | "So the question becomes who is responsible and we think it's unrealistic to put that responsibility on our customers." |
But Ben Gardener, a solicitor at Pinsent Masons, believes Volvo's guarantee is aimed at reducing uncertainty in the minds of governments and regulators. | But Ben Gardener, a solicitor at Pinsent Masons, believes Volvo's guarantee is aimed at reducing uncertainty in the minds of governments and regulators. |
"Volvo wants to remove the uncertainty of who would be responsible in the event of a crash. At the moment it could be the manufacturer of the technology, the driver, a maker of a component in a car." | "Volvo wants to remove the uncertainty of who would be responsible in the event of a crash. At the moment it could be the manufacturer of the technology, the driver, a maker of a component in a car." |
Volvo also told the BBC it would only accept liability for an accident if it was the result of a flaw in the car's design. | Volvo also told the BBC it would only accept liability for an accident if it was the result of a flaw in the car's design. |
"If the customer used the technology in an inappropriate way then the user is still liable," said Mr Coelingh. | "If the customer used the technology in an inappropriate way then the user is still liable," said Mr Coelingh. |
"Likewise if a third party vehicle causes the crash, then it would be liable." | "Likewise if a third party vehicle causes the crash, then it would be liable." |
Will this actually make a difference? | Will this actually make a difference? |
Maybe. | Maybe. |
Prof Sandor Veres, director of autonomous systems at Sheffield University, told the BBC: "This bold move by Volvo can pave the way for global legislation, as if other manufacturers take similar undertakings then legislation can be made simple." | Prof Sandor Veres, director of autonomous systems at Sheffield University, told the BBC: "This bold move by Volvo can pave the way for global legislation, as if other manufacturers take similar undertakings then legislation can be made simple." |
But Mr Gardener said the move would not get around underlying safety concerns about driverless cars. | But Mr Gardener said the move would not get around underlying safety concerns about driverless cars. |
While manufacturers claim autonomous vehicles could eventually improve road safety, a number have been involved in accidents involving such cars during tests. | While manufacturers claim autonomous vehicles could eventually improve road safety, a number have been involved in accidents involving such cars during tests. |
"There's not much value in a manufacturer saying we'll be responsible for thousands of accidents but then there being thousands of accidents each year," said Mr Gardener. | "There's not much value in a manufacturer saying we'll be responsible for thousands of accidents but then there being thousands of accidents each year," said Mr Gardener. |
He said it was also unclear whether automatically holding manufacturers liable would stand up in court - at least in the UK. | He said it was also unclear whether automatically holding manufacturers liable would stand up in court - at least in the UK. |
"In this country, the party causing an accident is responsible once all of the circumstances of the particular case have been examined," he said. | "In this country, the party causing an accident is responsible once all of the circumstances of the particular case have been examined," he said. |
"But moving to a strict manufacturer liability approach would remove the need to consider who is responsible for the collision. This is something not currently recognised in the UK approach to liability." | "But moving to a strict manufacturer liability approach would remove the need to consider who is responsible for the collision. This is something not currently recognised in the UK approach to liability." |
When will we see driverless cars on our roads? | When will we see driverless cars on our roads? |
In truth, we are only likely to see widespread use of driverless technology when such grey areas are resolved. | In truth, we are only likely to see widespread use of driverless technology when such grey areas are resolved. |
But according to some, that could be sooner than previously expected. | But according to some, that could be sooner than previously expected. |
At the Frankfurt Auto show last month, US secretary of transportation Anthony Foxx said he expects driverless cars to be in use all over the world in 10 years. | At the Frankfurt Auto show last month, US secretary of transportation Anthony Foxx said he expects driverless cars to be in use all over the world in 10 years. |
Tesla founder Elon Musk has predicted his firm will have approval for its automated vehicles as early as 2019. | Tesla founder Elon Musk has predicted his firm will have approval for its automated vehicles as early as 2019. |
And many other manufacturers plan to launch driverless cars in the near future, including Toyota which on Wednesday said it expected to be selling such vehicles by 2020. | And many other manufacturers plan to launch driverless cars in the near future, including Toyota which on Wednesday said it expected to be selling such vehicles by 2020. |
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