Driverless cars used to be the perfect symbol for the future. Thanks to companies like Tesla and Google, though, the future is now – and driverless cars are a real thing. As exciting as that is, though, there are still issues when it comes to liability and driver safety, so back in 2016, the United States Government unveiled guidelines concerning driverless vehicles.

The guidelines cover many points. We’ve created a summary of them here, so you can see (in a nutshell) what an autonomous vehicle should be doing.

• Information sharing – Driverless vehicles’ onboard computers gather driving-related information, which automakers must share in order to help determine the cause of a wreck or malfunction.
• Privacy – Owners must understand what type of information the computers gather and how to tell the computers not to gather any personal information. Driverless vehicles must also have security features to prevent computer-based attacks, and manufacturers should share their security test results.
• Proof of safety despite malfunction – Driverless vehicles must adjust for malfunctions, collisions, and other dangers. Independent experts must inspect the systems, and automakers must show that driverless vehicles still work safely during malfunctions. Automakers must also meet National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standards and prove that driverless vehicles protect their occupants in accidents.
• Man and machine communication – Automakers must show how driverless vehicles change from manual control to auto control, how the vehicles communicate with each other, pedestrians, and other drivers, and how humans can access information like autopilot unavailability.
• Testing – Manufacturers should have ways to test and update driverless vehicles, including simulations and road tests.  Any system updates, furthermore, will need to be approved by the NHTSA.
• Education – Salespeople, customers, and others should know the abilities and limits of driverless vehicles.
• Obedience of traffic laws – Driverless vehicles must obey all traffic laws. Manufacturers must prove driverless vehicles function and adjust to all driving circumstances, including encounters with pedestrians and other vehicles. Driverless vehicles also must change from auto control to manual control during malfunctions but know the state of human drivers, whether they are drunk, high, etc., and when not to go into manual control.
• Proof of post-accident safety – Manufacturers must show that driverless vehicles are safe again after accidents; for instance, driverless vehicles should not work until all systems are restored.

What do opponents say?

Not everyone loves the guidelines. Some think the rules should be broader, but that could be difficult because driverless vehicles are new, and there are no preexisting rules for new technology. Other groups think that there are too many guidelines, and that overregulation can keep the industry from ever making it fully off the ground.

It’s the data sharing aspect, though, that really ruffles people’s feathers: many view it as invasion of privacy. Though the guidelines intend for only data from the vehicles themselves, their software, etc. to be shared, and not that of the occupants, it could be possible to “hack” drivers and passengers – especially those who use social media on their smartphones while in a driverless car.

As injury attorneys, our main concerns lie with liability – as in, if a driverless car does cause an accident, who is responsible if a person gets hurt? Who’s going to pay for the medical expenses and property damages: the passenger in the autonomous vehicle? The software designer? The manufacturer? Until we know these answers, we’re never really going to feel comfortable with a driverless car.

If you or a loved one got injured as a result of a car accident, you may qualify for legal compensation. For more information, contact the Knoxville auto accident attorneys at Banks & Jones, or call us at 865-546-2141. We’ll fight 2 win for you.