Move over, George Jetson: the days of driverless cars will soon be here. Ride-sharing giant Uber had a fleet of driverless cars puttering around Pittsburgh this summer, and companies around the globe have been working on perfecting autonomous vehicles. The federal government recently provided some guidelines on how driverless cars are to be regulated.

Although they are not official laws, the federal guidelines regarding driverless vehicles address some key points. They provide uniform rules with enough room to adapt to changes and advancements in driverless vehicle technology. They also are intended to promote time and money management and to ensure safety.

First and foremost, the guidelines:

• Establish a standard for driverless vehicle composition and production
• Encourage the state governments to devise detailed policies regarding autonomous vehicles
• Explain how current vehicle laws can include autonomous vehicles
• Allow room for new laws

The guidelines also cover:

• How autonomous vehicles are to react if the onboard technology malfunctions
• How the privacy of the passenger or passengers is to be maintained
• How car manufacturers are to address the online nature of the security associated with autonomous vehicles
• How passengers are to be protected in the event of an auto accident
• How autonomous vehicles are to maintain communication with passengers, other vehicles, and other individuals on the road

In addition, they encourage manufacturers to demonstrate the validation of the technology and the sharing of information gathered by driverless vehicles. However, federal authorities maintain their ability to recall driverless vehicles deemed dangerous.

Looking at the pros and cons

Supporters of driverless vehicles in general assert that they help lower the number of auto-accident-related deaths. Supporters of the federal guidelines in particular applaud the guidelines’ ability to allow the new technology to be introduced without disregarding public safety. They view them as the beginning of nationwide and complementary state regulations covering driverless cars. In fact, in future auto accident cases, federal and state courts might refer to the guidelines as a basis for determining negligence, liability, and the like.

Opponents of the new technology, in general, are primarily concerned with safety – both public and personal. They cite the May 2016 case of a driver, whose vehicle was in autopilot control and not manual control, who died after his vehicle collided with a semi-truck on a highway in Florida. Opponents of the guidelines in particular are worried that they could cause state regulations covering driverless vehicles to become less powerful and less effective, as federal regulations (even unofficial ones) could take precedence over state regulations.

Regardless of how you feel about self-driving cars, we’re likely to see a lot more about them in the coming years. We hope that issues of liability will be more completely addressed before the vehicles are offered to the public on a large scale, but it looks like manufacturers started without that. If you are injured in a crash or collision with another driver or a self-driving car, the Delius & McKenzie is here for you. To make an appointment with an experienced Sevierville auto accident attorney, please call (865) 428-8780 or fill out our contact form. We proudly serve clients throughout Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Seymour and Pigeon Forge.