Dubai is getting driverless cars soon, but what about laws?

Dubai - The issue is of major significance to the UAE, given that Dubai is aiming to have a quarter of all transportation on its roads being driverless by 2030.

It is still too early to establish a legal and regulatory framework for driverless vehicles but governments should draft progressive legislation to address the current state of autonomous transport and come up with regulations that do not inhibit disruptive technologies.

This was the gist of the discussion on Tuesday with experts at global law firm K&L Gates LLP in the run up to the forthcoming Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) in Dubai.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, William Reichert, Dubai partner at K&L Gates, said: "I think it is still too early to come up with a comprehensive regulatory framework because we are sill in the testing phase (of autonomous vehicles) and we don't know yet what sort of legislation would be necessary with regards to driverless vehicles as opposed to regular cars."
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The issue is of major significance to the UAE, given that Dubai is aiming to have a quarter of all transportation on its roads being driverless by 2030.

"By that time we may end up with less legislation or medium legislation compared to the volume base that what we have right now because we are taking out the human element in driverless cars," said Reichert.

He explained: "For example, there is a big concern in many countries of people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. With an autonomous car, you don't have that issue anymore.  With regards to speed limits, manufacturers can program how fast or slow autonomous vehicles should drive in certain ares. Therefore, n you don't need to have laws that impose fines on overspeeding."
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Reichert also said manufacturing companies can come up with a guidance system that will automatically slow down a car near school zones or certain residential areas.

"The fact is autonomous vehicles can make the world a safer place. Right now, 90 per cent of accidents are due to human failure and if you can take this factor out, we can have safer roads," he added.

"Any new legislation specific to autonomous cars is different from our current legislation," Reichert said. "It is still too early to predict because we need to know first what the problems are," added Reichert, further explaining that legislation tends to be reactive.

"We can try to be proactive but usually things develop in a different way than what we expect," he pointed.

Reichert, however, underlined that there is a "need to create an appropriate and progressive legal and regulatory landscape on a global scale. The legislation should cover diverse areas such as personal data, cybersecurity, telecommunications, intellectual property and data ownership, and research and development."

Badr Al-Olama, CEO of Al Ain-based Strata Manufacturing, and head of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit Organising Committee, said: "As the new industrial revolution takes increasing hold over manufacturing and its adjacent industries, it becomes increasingly evident that the exciting rate of technological development will lead to an unprecedented evolution of legislative rules and regulations for the sake of continuity, compatibility and the overall global community."

angel@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai