Will we see the arrival of the autonomous cars and other automated driving vehicles in France soon?
A press release from Ministry of the Interior publishes this July 1 a text that goes in this direction. He wants to set up a comprehensive regulatory framework to manage the circulation of autonomous cars. If such changes are effective, France would become the first European country to adopt such a regulation.
Towards an adaptation of the highway code
With this recent decree which will be implemented soon, the regulations of the highway code should change. In particular in planning and supporting new autonomous driving systems, a first. Until now, the latter only provided for situations involving the driving of a vehicle by a physical individual.
Thanks to this new legal framework established, in the event of an accident, when the autonomous system is activated, the driver can no longer be directly held responsible. Provided that the latter has complied with the conditions of use of the software. A provision desired by insurers who will thus be able to compensate victims. Even turn to the designers of the software or the builders directly.
The objective is to allow drivers to relieve their responsibility as soon as the autonomous driving system is functioning.
France, first in Europe for the process
This new decree is a first in France but also for Europe. With a noticeable increase in automated driving systems, which are developing at an impressive rate, it is important that the highway code can finally include them.
France is therefore a pioneer in this area. undoubtedly, it is very likely that other neighboring countries will subsequently adopt similar regulations.
In this sense, the Minister Delegate in charge of transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, declared “With this decree, we are taking another step towards the mobility of the future. […] As of today, we are giving our manufacturers and transport operators the visibility they need to develop them – and tomorrow, keep them running. ».
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