By now most people are familiar with the concept of self-driving cars, however, few are aware of the legal and safety implications this new technology presents. Companies like Alphabet, Inc. (Google’s parent company) and Tesla are leading the way in self-driving vehicles–more formally known as autonomous driving. While statistically far safer than human operated vehicles, many people are still very apprehensive about the idea of releasing the wheel and letting a computer take over. Part of the reason for this fear is due to the widespread media coverage of any crash an autonomous vehicle is involved in.
Autonomous Driving & The Law
In the near future, autonomous driving vehicles will begin to sweep across the nation. With heavyweight corporations investing large amounts of time and resources in self-driving programs it is only a matter of time until we see widespread fully developed autonomous vehicles. With these developments must come adequate a new legal framework to support this developing segment of transportation that society will partake in. As of 2016, only six states in the country have passed legislation regulating autonomous driving. In the coming years is Georgia is expected to pass its own legislation as the state house of representatives passed House Resolution 1265 in 2014 which laid the foundation for the development of a House of Representatives committee on self-driving vehicles.