This paper provides the most comprehensive discussion to date of whether so-called automated, autonomous, self-driving, or driverless vehicles can be lawfully sold and used on public roads in the United States. The short answer is that the computer direction of a motor vehicle’s steering, braking, and accelerating without real-time human input is probably legal. The long answer, which follows, provides a foundation for tailoring regulations and understanding liability issues related to these vehicles. The primary purpose of this paper is to assess the current legal status of automated vehicles. The paper includes draft language for US states that wish to clarify this status. It alsorecommends five near-term measures that may help increase legal certainty without producing premature regulation.
Smart Mobility Community for Standards and Practices
