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? Who is charged and pays the ticket when your self-driving vehicle commits a traffic offense?
How about when it’s a massive double-tandem rig hauling logs resulting in loss of life? I think we can bet it won’t be the company’s CEO. Maybe some low level underpaid Jane or Joe in the maintenance shop?
PS - Having been rear-ended waiting at a red light by a rather large truck hauling frozen fish operated by an inattentive driver, I’ll take a rig operated by computer over one with an inept inattentive human behind the wheel. Your odds are better.
"Texas, which rivals California as another popular testing ground for autonomous vehicles, changed its transportation laws in 2017 to adapt to the emerging technology. According to the Texas Transportation Code, the owner of a driverless car is “considered the operator” and can be cited for breaking traffic laws “regardless of whether the person is physically present in the vehicle.”
Arizona, another busy site for autonomous vehicles, took similar steps. In revising its traffic laws, Arizona declared the owner of an autonomous vehicle “may be issued a traffic citation or other applicable penalty if the vehicle fails to comply with traffic or motor vehicle laws.”
My understanding of self-driving vehicles is that the technology (i.e.code) is written/compiled by the manufacturer and the human driver is unable to overwrite it albeit they may take over the driving. Is that right? If not how are they deemed liable other than by general edict? It seems as though TX & AZ laws are saying that it is what we say it is.
How about when it’s a massive double-tandem rig hauling logs resulting in loss of life? I think we can bet it won’t be the company’s CEO. Maybe some low level underpaid Jane or Joe in the maintenance shop?
PS - Having been rear-ended waiting at a red light by a rather large truck hauling frozen fish operated by an inattentive driver, I’ll take a rig operated by computer over one with an inept inattentive human behind the wheel. Your odds are better.
Forgive me if I find little comfort in that although you're probably right.
Comments
PS - Having been rear-ended waiting at a red light by a rather large truck hauling frozen fish operated by an inattentive driver, I’ll take a rig operated by computer over one with an inept inattentive human behind the wheel. Your odds are better.
"Texas, which rivals California as another popular testing ground for autonomous vehicles, changed its transportation laws in 2017 to adapt to the emerging technology. According to the Texas Transportation Code, the owner of a driverless car is “considered the operator” and can be cited for breaking traffic laws “regardless of whether the person is physically present in the vehicle.”
Arizona, another busy site for autonomous vehicles, took similar steps. In revising its traffic laws, Arizona declared the owner of an autonomous vehicle “may be issued a traffic citation or other applicable penalty if the vehicle fails to comply with traffic or motor vehicle laws.”
My understanding of self-driving vehicles is that the technology (i.e.code) is written/compiled by the manufacturer and the human driver is unable to overwrite it albeit they may take over the driving. Is that right? If not how are they deemed liable other than by general edict? It seems as though TX & AZ laws are saying that it is what we say it is.
@hank - Forgive me if I find little comfort in that although you're probably right.