China’s new traffic safety law set to clarify liability for fully automated cars
Lawmakers are set to establish clear liability standards for self-driving cars, a move that could open the floodgates for next-gen vehicles
Beijing could soon hold carmakers legally responsible for traffic violations when autonomous driving systems are in use, marking an important step towards clearing regulatory hurdles to wider commercialisation.
“The definitions of autonomous vehicles and driver-assistance functions would be clarified in the amendments,” Xinhua reported, without revealing when the revised law would enter into force.
Self-driving systems switched off during a journey would remain subject to existing rules and laws, according to Xinhua, while analysts noted that carmakers could be held accountable for accidents and traffic rule violations when such systems were activated in a vehicle legally recognised as autonomous.
“As they are required to shoulder the responsibilities for the cars’ operations on the roads, automotive companies will also be allowed to build and sell cars of this kind to attract consumers,” said Gao Shen, an independent analyst based in Shanghai.
“When the amended law is promulgated, dozens of new autonomous models will hit the streets.”