Volvo has become one of the first car companies to confirm that it will accept full responsibility for any accidents caused by its future driverless cars. The carmaker’s stance is an effort to speed up regulations which currently fail to fully recognise how autonomous cars and their manufacturers should be liable.

Mercedes and Google have made similar claims, as they and the industry as a whole work to develop autonomous features which take control and responsibility away from the driver. Volvo has described current US and European law regarding self-driving cars and liability as “a patchwork of rules and regulations”.

Speaking in Washington DC on 8 October, Volvo Cars president Hakan Samuelsson praised the US for currently being “the most progressive country in the world in autonomous driving.” The country already allows Google and others to operate autonomous cars on the public roads of some some states.

However, Samuelsson added the country “risks losing its leading position” because of a lack of federal guidelines for the “testing and certification” of self-driving vehicles. Rules governing self-driving cars vary by state, making it difficult for manufacturers to build a vehicle which can be driven legally nationwide.

the full article can be read here: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/volvo-we-will-be-responsible-accidents-caused-by-our-driverless-cars-1523260