To that end the German government is set to pass new legislation requiring all cars equipped with self-driving features to include a black box, similar to those required on aircraft. While the autopilot system is said to still be in the Beta phase, Tesla maintains that it requires users to keep their hands on the wheels at all times.
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Tesla has been taking the brunt of the outrage from the general public recently as their auto-pilot feature seems to be at the forefront of many self-driving vehicle accidents this year.
This new legislation, which has yet to be approved by other ministries or brought to vote, would also require drivers to remain behind the wheel at all times, even while the self-driving system is engaged, though their attention does not necessarily need to be on steering or surrounding traffic. The functionality is still in Beta, however, and the company requires its drivers to keep their hands on the wheels and pay attention to the road even when the auto is driving itself.
The draft is due to be sent to other ministries for approval this summer. This decision will then affect all auto makers that will be producing self-driving vehicles, which could potentially include Volkswagen, BMW, and Daimler. Carmakers pleaded with United States regulators earlier this year for limited regulation on autonomous cars to encourage rapid development of potentially lifesaving technologies.
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The biggest issue: Automakers and researchers are grappling with the human aspect of self-driving cars. Republication or redistribution of content provided by EconoTimes is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of EconoTimes, except for personal and non-commercial use.
