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China to clarify liability rules for autonomous driving systems
Beijing plans to review amended road safety legislation that would define autonomous vehicles and driver-assistance functions, while keeping manual switch-off cases under existing laws.
China is set to review amendments to its Road Traffic Safety Law that would clarify how liability is handled when autonomous driving systems are in use, a move aimed at easing regulatory hurdles to wider commercial deployment. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress is scheduled to examine the revised law on Tuesday, according to Xinhua as reported by SCMP Economy.
Under the proposed changes, the definitions of autonomous vehicles and driver-assistance functions would be clarified, while autonomous systems that are switched off during a trip would remain governed by existing rules and laws. Analysts also said carmakers could be held accountable for accidents and traffic violations when the systems are activated in vehicles legally recognized as autonomous.
SCMP Economy reported that, if the changes take effect, automakers would be allowed to build and sell such autonomous vehicles, with the goal of making it easier for consumers to adopt the technology.
An independent analyst in Shanghai, Gao Shen, said the amendments are designed to shift responsibilities for road operation to automotive companies, aligning legal accountability with the use of autonomous capabilities.