Germany to require 'black box' in autonomous cars

Germany plans new legislation to require manufacturers of cars equipped with an autopilot function to install a black box to help determine responsibility in the event of an accident, according to Reuters. The fatal crash of a Tesla Motors Inc Model S car in its Autopilot mode has increased the pressure on industry executives and regulators to ensure that automated driving technology can be deployed safely. Under the proposal from Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, drivers will not have to pay at
July 19, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Germany plans new legislation to require manufacturers of cars equipped with an autopilot function to install a black box to help determine responsibility in the event of an accident, according to Reuters.

The fatal crash of a 597 Tesla Motors Inc Model S car in its Autopilot mode has increased the pressure on industry executives and regulators to ensure that automated driving technology can be deployed safely.

Under the proposal from Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, drivers will not have to pay attention to traffic or concentrate on steering, but must remain seated at the wheel so they can intervene in the event of an emergency.

Manufacturers will also be required to install a black box that records when the autopilot system was active, when the driver drove and when the system requested that the driver take over, according to the proposals.

The draft is due to be sent to other ministries for approval this summer, a transport ministry spokesman said.
Location Based Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Applied Information’s app gets Marietta connected
    October 26, 2017
    Must the benefits of connected vehicle technology wait for a generation of new or retrofitted vehicles? The US city of Marietta is about to find out. Can connected vehicle functionality be delivered via a smartphone? Well, in Marietta, Georgia, they are about to answer that question. The city is testing a smartphone app which warns motorists of nearby cyclists and pedestrians, approaching first responders, wrong-way driving, entering active school zones and much more.
    Read More
  • Two initiatives announced to cut road works disruption in London
    May 17, 2012
    A joint US$1.6 million fund to research and develop new technology to reduce the disruption caused by road works was announced yesterday by UK Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Confirmation of a lane rental scheme for roadworks was also announced at the same time.
    Read More
  • Make Thanksgiving roads safe: GHSA
    November 22, 2022
    Grants given to four states to avoid holiday season road fatalities - with help from Lyft
    Read More
  • MEPs call for mandatory emergency eCall system by 2015
    June 20, 2012
    By 2015, all new cars must be fitted with eCall devices to alert the rescue services automatically to road crashes through the public 112 emergency call system, say Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a resolution adopted jointly by the Internal Market and Transport Committees yesterday. This system would speed up the arrival of the emergency services, saving lives and reducing injuries, adds the non-binding resolution.
    Read More

Highlighted Content