Automated Vehicles: Law Commissions' Final Recommendations Published

The Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission have today published a joint report, making recommendations for the safe and responsible introduction of automated, ie self-driving, vehicles. One key aspect of the recommendations focuses on the certainty about who or what is legally responsible for the operation of an automated vehicle. Is it the person or the system? It's going to be critically important to answer this very clearly in order to avoid any ambiguity or confusion for drivers and other road users first and foremost but also and for insurers and vehicle manufacturers.

The recommendations highlight the need for a new safety agency to oversee the development, technical standards and pre-market authorisation of automated vehicles. It's not only crucial that they function correctly, but also that consumers are provided with accurate information about what the vehicles can and cannot do. Messages about vehicle capabilities are