Driving into the future: regulating driverless vehicles in Australia

The Australian Governments should ensure our legal framework supports the testing, introduction and safe operation of driverless vehicles (more correctly described as automated vehicles). The legal framework must also acknowledge their potential risks. The recent tragic fatality of a driver of a Tesla vehicle in autopilot mode highlights the development risks associated with the introduction of automated vehicles. Of course, users of new technology elect to do so, and have the benefit of instructions for use and warnings, but it is only a matter of time before an automated vehicle causes the death or injury of someone who does not. Accordingly, Australian Governments must satisfy themselves that risks to public safety are managed appropriately before allowing automated vehicles to be tested and used on public roads. However, unnecessary delay by Australian Governments in creating a suitable regulatory environment for automated vehicles could obstruct the significant safety, productivity, mobility and other benefits that automated vehicles offer. In May 2016, the National Transport Commission released a Discussion Paper on regulatory options for automated vehicles. The Discussion Paper identifies some regulatory barriers to automated vehicles based on an extensive audit of Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation, and suggests some options to address these barriers. This report builds on the good work of the National Transport Commission. It considers options it proposed, puts forward further options, and makes a number of recommendations.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.claytonutz.com/ArticleDocuments/178/Clayton-Utz-Driving-into-the-future-regulating-driverless-vehicles-2016.pdf.aspx?Embed=Y
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Clayton Utz

  Sydney, New South Wales   

  Clayton Utz

  ,    
• Publication Date: 2016-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 35p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated vehicle control; Highway safety; Legislation; Policy; Regulations
• Uncontrolled Terms: Policy and planning
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Autonomous vehicle; Legislation; Policy; Road safety; Vehicle regulations
• Subject Areas: Law; Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01610600
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 19 2016 2:32PM