Need for Autonomous Vehicle Legislation, Daily Journal

The Autonomous Vehicle industry is budding, but legislation cannot keep up with the growth. In her Daily Journal article “Long Road Ahead for Autonomous Vehicle Laws,” Attorney Patice Gore discusses steps that need to be taken in order to further the advancement of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs).

Ms. Gore notes that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a policy statement regarding AVs in 2013, but has not since been updated. As a result of the lack of federal regulation, several states have taken matters into their own hands and enacted their own AV laws.

“There is a general consensus that there needs to be a national regulatory framework which sets forth rules governing AVs,” said Ms. Gore. “Cybersecurity and privacy are the two most significant aspects of AV technology which need to be addressed as they will impact the largest group of users and non-users of AVs.”

The issues regarding cybersecurity have to do with the concern that AVs can be hacked and used as weapons. Ms. Gore suggests that upcoming legislation should focus on cybersecurity concerns by deciding how to respond to breaches and minimize potential risks. She also adds that AV law must address concerns arising from data collection. Going forward, attorneys working with clients in the AV industry must work to understand the complex legal issues surrounding AVs, as they will shape the laws that will ultimately regulate them.

Full article here.

September 2, 2016