AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, COMPETENCE AND LIABILITY IN THE EU - ANSWERING THE CALL OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

摘要

Technology is taking immense steps in a short period of time and legislators are trying to keep up. Fully autonomous vehicles where human drivers are obsolete are not far away from becoming a reality. The EU aims at facilitating robotic advancements into legislation with the Proposition on Civil Law Rules on Robotics (205/2013(INL)). Consumer protection, market access and liability issues are of main importance concerning driverless vehicles.
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\nThe main goal of this master’s thesis is to examine autonomous vehicles, competence and liability issues in the European Union context. In other words this thesis examines whether it is possible to regulate on autonomous vehicles on an EU level and if so, what the legislator must take into consideration when doing so or whether current legislation sufficient enough to grant protection for victims of traffic accidents involving autonomous vehicles. The scope of the study is set on future insurance policies, product liability and current national legislation with reference to international policies and regulation.
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\nDifferent legislations on civil liability create a mixed and uncertain background for autonomous vehicles. A uniform and clear EU policy on autonomous vehicles would benefit consumers and market access of said products. The problems can be dissolved with creating an EU wide legal background for autonomous vehicles with product liability, insurance policies and a legal liability theorem. The private sector – the manufacturers and insurance industry – must have an active part in creating legislation and soft law policies.
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\nThe thesis has achieved its goal if it creates discussion on the importance of harnessing new technology, especially autonomous vehicles.