When Mercedes launches Europe’s first level 3 automatic vehicle system, it’s time for the EU Accident Investigation Board
The ETSC reiterates its call for the establishment of an EU Road Accident Investigation Board to conduct a legal analysis of accidents involving automatic vehicles on EU roads.
The conversation follows the declaration Yesterday by Mercedes-Benz of the German launch of ‘Drive Pilot’, a system that allows automatic driving at speeds of up to 60 km / h on highways in Germany. This is the first approval of a Level 3 automatic driving system for use in Europe. Such systems can drive without driver supervision. Under certain circumstances.
International technical and safety standards for such systems have been approved by the United Nations UNECE Last year. Changes in German national road laws to allow the use of such systems under certain conditions were introduced in 2017. But the system has not yet been approved for use throughout the EU, and some EU member states have not yet made the necessary changes to the road rules. Will allow hands-free driving.
Frank Mütze, ETSC Automation Specialist responded:
“As the market for vehicles equipped with Level 3 systems will grow rapidly in the coming years, we urgently need to guarantee that accidents in which a driving system was responsible for the vehicle will be investigated and the results published.
“We also see significant pressure on UNECE to increase the speed of operation of such systems, and to allow automatic lanes to be replaced – factors that will dramatically increase potential risks. It would be irresponsible for the EU and member states to allow more dangerous systems without a strong oversight and investigation system. “When things go wrong. The fact is that today, we do not have data on the number of accidents that occur when auxiliary driving systems were active. This situation can not continue now that systems responsible for driving a vehicle are entering the market.”
ETSC calls for:
- EU Agency to monitor or investigate crashes involving automated systems and publish all findings to help prevent future conflicts;
- Mandatory reporting to the EU agency by manufacturers of all collisions involving active automatic systems on public roads in the EU as well as collisions involving existing level 2 assistive driving systems;
- Direct access to vehicle data to relevant authorities to enable in-depth, independent legal accident investigations;
In the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has investigated a number of collisions that include Level 2 auxiliary driving systems, and has provided useful recommendations to manufacturers. The UK is now advising on the establishment of a Road Accident Investigation Authority.
Within the EU, most authorities do not routinely access vehicle data when investigating collisions due to technical complexity and legal barriers. The Netherlands has taken a leading role in investigating collisions involving automated systems and recently found a method of accessing data within the vehicle without the involvement of the manufacturer. ETSC says that the EU must establish a proper system of regulatory oversight before further launching of automated systems in the EU is possible.