Remote driving: a new challenge for transport regulation?
Technology is advancing fast and, on the road to full autonomous mobility, there are several intermediate stages. One of those being considered, until Level 5 vehicles exist, is to combine automation with remote driving, especially if it can be done from abroad.
This new way of driving has advantages such as convenience, time savings and lower costs, which can be especially useful for various sectors. However, it also raises important challenges, such as road safety and users' privacy.
However, today there seem to be doubts about the use of these technologies.
The Law Commission of England and Wales proposes banning remote driving from abroad
In early 2023, a report commissioned by the British government and prepared by the Law Commission of England and Wales recommended banning the remote driving of vehicles from abroad, especially in uses such as delivering rental cars.
At the time, this technology was used mainly in controlled environments such as farms and warehouses, but its application could extend to services that have to operate on open roads.
In the United Kingdom there was no law requiring the driver to be inside the controlled vehicle, so in principle there should be no problem in applying this technology.
However, the Commission argued that, because of the "difficulties in applying this type of use case", remote driving from abroad should be banned "at least until the appropriate international agreements are in place".
The report states that remote driving in public places should only be allowed if companies obtain the corresponding permits set by the authority.
It also notes that remote drivers must be responsible for their actions in the same way as someone sitting at the wheel, but that there should be no liability for failures beyond their control, such as connectivity failures.
Nicholas Paines KC, the Public Law Commissioner, said: "Remote driving is an exciting technology, but before we see remotely controlled cars on UK roads, we must address safety concerns through robust regulation."
"Our advice concludes that in the short term, the government could address some gaps in the law on remote driving using existing powers, while providing a path for companies to use the technology lawfully as long as their systems are safe."
"In the long term, it could set up a full system of regulation for remote driving. The regulations must respond to other fundamental concerns relating to security threats and liability in the event of an accident."
"Our advice paper sets out a roadmap for how the government can tackle these issues, while encouraging businesses to innovate."
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