First regulatory green light for the autonomous car – Les Echos

It was a necessary step to the future arrival of the autonomous car on the road. In a statement released Wednesday, the commission of the UN Economic Affairs (UNECE), announced the revision of the Vienna Convention, which establishes the principles of global road traffic since 1968. The regulation would allow for good the automated driving systems, “provided they comply with UN regulations on vehicles or they can be controlled or disabled by the driver.” maintenance systems on the way to compliance with safety distances, navigation in traffic, parking assistance, automatic emergency braking … Many of driver assistance devices, called “DISA” in the jargon of the industry, which are in fact already present in many next-generation cars.

paradox

This is the paradox. “In recent years there today gives legal recognition to technologies that have actually developed very quickly,” shows the “echoes” Yves Van der Straeten, Secretary General of the International Organization of manufacturers automobiles (OICA), working directly in the development of future regulations. Whether they are Audi (Q7), BMW, and Mercedes (E-Class), templates of premium manufacturers allow to flow by releasing the wheel in some situations. The American specialist of electric cars upscale Tesla went even further with the Autopilot system. Tested by “Les Echos” on the motorway, it even manages only overtaking: just put the flashing and the system changes lanes by measuring the speed. All this up to 140-150 kilometers per hour … “It is surprising that even Tesla could get approval as an autonomous car technology incorporating” a professional judge. Automation is already happening on the road, even if the systems can not handle all driving situations. Snow, fog, roundabout bottled, insertion on the device … These situations still will take time to be controlled at all times.

If he decided to accompany technological advances, the regulator has not provided open completely open the door to widespread autonomous car. The amendment voted by the UNECE does not change Article 8 of the Vienna Convention, which states: “the driver of a vehicle must avoid any activity other than driving [...] and forcing the vehicle to “have a driver”

As it is, the benefits of autonomous driving. – work, play, rest … – therefore remain the promise of state. The driver uses the driver assistance systems must stay focused, ready to take control of the wheel.

The novelty is that the regulator is now in the game. “This is very good news,” says Olivier Dumain, director of the electric range of BMW. The UNECE has also announced its willingness to go further, by revising the law number 79 of the UN, which limits the capacity of automatic piloting below 10 km / h. Regulations should be permanently in place at the earliest in 2017. The site is now launched

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