There To Be Broken

In 1968, the Vienna Convention ruled that a driver must remain in control of a vehicle at all times. This article discusses how this 40-year-old law may impact the development of autonomous control systems. The European Union currently is funding a project to assess the viability of a system that could make autonomous driving a reality in Europe. However, if so-called road trains, where cars travel in a convoy, became reality, the Vienna Convention law would have to be rewritten. That may not be necessary in the near term, however. Current systems, such as lane keeping systems, are within the legal requirement because these warning systems give the driver the opportunity to take control. In addition, all the necessary technologies for autonomous control can be developed under the existing law. Some experts also feel that autonomous systems will not be in the marketplace for at least 25 years, if ever.