Japanese panel eyes rules for self-driving cars

Google says it will begin testing a new line of its autonomous vehicles.

Work to create rules for putting self-driving vehicles into practical use is kicking into high gear as progress continues on the development of such vehicles.

Hopes are high that automated driving technology will reduce traffic accidents and congestion. But the "ultimate safety technology" faces many issues over its practical use, such as who will be liable if a self-driving car causes an accident.

The National Police Agency will launch a committee Friday to study legal and operational issues. Based on that, legal arrangements, including law revisions, are expected to be made.

Placing high hopes on "dream cars," an official at Nissan's public relations section said: "The number of accidents and traffic jams caused by human error, such as drivers' carelessness and delayed reactions, is likely to fall. Such vehicles could also serve as a means of transportation for the elderly and disabled."

Automakers, including Nissan and Toyota Motor, and the government are increasing efforts to put self-driving vehicles into practical use, possibly before the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2020.

Logistics companies, which have suffered labor shortages, also have high expectations for self-driving vehicles.

"If fully automated driving is realized, we can expect burdens on drivers to be lightened, and delivery delays due to traffic jams would be also reduced," said an official of Yamato Transport.

If fully automated driving is realized, we can expect burdens on drivers to be lightened, and delivery delays due to traffic jams would be also reduced.

Self-driving vehicles turn the wheel, apply the brakes and press the accelerator automatically by using information about environmental conditions from sensors, cameras and satellites. Such cars can avoid pedestrians and obstacles, and choose the best lanes during periods of traffic congestion. Automated driving is categorized into four levels - from Level 1, in which vehicles are capable of driver assistance such as automated braking, to Level 4, in which vehicles are fully automated.

Under the current Road Traffic Law, there are no legal restrictions on self-driving cars if drivers can accelerate, apply the brakes and take other steps to operate the cars if necessary.

However, if accidents are caused when the drivers are not engaged in driving, the drivers could be considered to have failed to meet their safety driving obligations. The legal ramifications of automated driving without human drivers remain unclear.

An NPA official said, "We'd like to sort out issues first and consider steps to be taken."

If self-driving cars are used widely, it might be necessary to create a license for automated driving like [current licenses] restricted to cars with automatic transmissions.

Many other hurdles remain before the vehicles can be put to practical use. In traffic accidents, drivers are generally liable. But if accidents are caused due to defects in an automated driving system, or while driving is fully automated, automakers, developers of the system and owners of the vehicles could all face liability. In such cases, the degree of responsibility for the accidents would become an issue.

In light of this, the General Insurance Association of Japan set up a project team in August last year to look into issues concerning automated driving.

A question has been also raised over whether the current drivers' licence system can be applied to automated driving.

Chiba University professor Tetsuya Ishii, an expert on criminal law, said, "If self-driving cars are used widely, it might be necessary to create a license for automated driving like [current licenses] restricted to cars with automatic transmissions."