EU pioneers safety rules for fully automated vehicles: keeping humans in the loop is key

Safety is at the core of discussions on the deployment of autonomous vehicles on public roads. The European Union is helping shape the future of mobility through the entry into force of its new EU General Vehicle Safety Regulation, which introduced a range of mandatory advanced driver assistance systems to improve road safety and establishes the legal framework for automated and connected vehicles and type approval of driverless vehicles.  

“Technology helps us increase the safety level of our cars. New advanced and mandatory safety features will further help reduce the number of casualties. Today, we are also ensuring that our rules allow us to safely introduce autonomous and driverless vehicles into the EU in a framework that puts people’s safety at the forefront epicenter,” stated Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president of the EU Commission, last Wednesday, July 6.

This is an important moment for the EU and the competitiveness of its industry as these mark the first international rules on driverless vehicles (level 4 automation) while also aligning EU law with the new UN rules on conditional driving automation (level 3 automation).

Einride, a company that offers connected, electric, and autonomous heavy trucks, welcomes the new legislation. “It clearly shows the EU’s support for the deployment of fully automated vehicles. It also clearly puts road safety at its foremost consideration, which Einride believes is crucial if we are to ensure safe deployment and public trust,” says Claudia Vella Casagrande, Director of European Affairs at Einride.

Einride looks forward to contributing to the continued work by legislators and authorities on international and national policies, standards, and legal frameworks to improve road safety and safety standards for fully automated vehicles.

Further important work will be underway with discussions within the EU Member States’ road safety authorities and other legislatures across the globe, including the UNECE, the United Kingdom, and the United States in the coming weeks and months.