Vehicle Technology and Aviation Bill strives to make autonomous driving as safe as possible
This week, the new Vehicle Technology and Aviation Bill was unveiled, which outlines the need for insurance to cover drivers both when they are controlling their autonomous vehicle and when the vehicle is in charge. Dik Vos, CEO of SQS, offered the following expert comment:
"While the benefits of self-driving vehicles speak for themselves, there are currently a few teething problems with these machines. The Vehicle Technology and Aviation Bill announced yesterday wisely covers all potential liability grey areas highlighted by recent examples, such as Google’s previous test fleet of driverless cars which saw 11 incidents, sparking a debate about who was liable for crashes involving driverless vehicles; the owner, the manufacturer or the software developer? A potential insurance nightmare this bill will look to address.
"However, incidents such as this also serve as a stark reminder for quality assurance to be implemented throughout the product development, starting at the point of concept, right through to the vehicle leaving the production line. Not only must insurers have policies in place to cover liability grey areas when it comes to driverless vehicles, but manufacturers must also take responsibility for safety and ensure critical software systems are performing as they should in order to retain consumer trust. Failure to do could see driverless vehicle consigned to the scrapheap of automotive history."