With its requirement that autonomous vehicles be overseen by humans, the German law reflects a realisation in the industry that researchers are still years away from cars that can safely allow the driver to disengage while the car does all the work
Passengers ride in an autonomous electric van operated by a Volkswagen subsidiary on the streets of Hamburg, Germany, June 30, 2021. The vehicles steer themselves, but technicians working from a remote control center keep an eye on their progress with the help of video monitors. Image: Felix Schmitt/The New York Times
FRANKFURT, Germany — In Hamburg, a fleet of electric Volkswagen vans owned by a ride-hailing service roams the streets picking up and dropping off passengers. The vehicles steer themselves, but technicians working from a remote control center keep an eye on their progress with the help of video monitors. If anything goes wrong, they can take control of the vehicle and steer it out of trouble.
This futuristic vision, within reach of current technology, is about to become legal in Germany. The Parliament in Berlin approved a new law on autonomous driving in May, and it awaits the signature of Germany’s president, a formality. The law opens a path for companies to start making money from autonomous driving services, which could also spur development.
With its requirement that autonomous vehicles be overseen by humans, the German law reflects a realization in the industry that researchers are still years away from cars that can safely allow the driver to disengage while the car does all the work. The law also requires that autonomous vehicles operate in a defined space approved by the authorities, an acknowledgment that the technology is not advanced enough to work safely in areas where traffic is chaotic and unpredictable.
So German companies that are pursuing the technology have adjusted their ambitions, focusing on moneymaking uses that don’t require major breakthroughs.
Germany’s nationwide approach contrasts with the patchwork of state laws in the United States. The U.S. government has issued guidelines for autonomous driving, but attempts to establish mandatory rules that would apply in all 50 states have foundered in Congress amid disagreement among automakers and autonomous driving developers about what the legislation should say.
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