The King Gives Drivers In Autonomous Cars Criminal Immunity

The business sector is extremely pleased with the move, as the UK’s hesitance to put legislation in place has impacted autonomous vehicle development. “The new primary legislation for self-driving vehicles gives us the confidence to continue investing in R&D and growing our talent base here in the UK,” said Alex Kendall, CEO of Wayve, an autonomous vehicle designer specialist, reports Automotive News Europe.

The lawyers are pleased with the clear definition, too. “Previously, there was concern over the grey area that could exist if someone is injured by a driverless vehicle and where it was difficult to prove who was in control at the time of the accident,” said Joshua Hughes, Head of Complex Injury at Bolt Burdon Kemp. “In the scenario where a manufacturer was found to be liable, an injured claimant could then find themselves bringing a claim under complex product liability law rather than motor liability. With this Bill, more certainty and confidence will be instilled in the manufacturers, insurers, and most importantly, road users.”