Germany Wants To Implement Black Boxes In Autonomous Cars

In the wake of the Tesla Autopilot accidents, there’s been a change of attitude from regulators, who want to ensure that automated driving can be deploy safely.

Reuters reports that Germany plans to require car makers to implement a data recording device, aka black box, in every vehicle equipped with an autopilot function in order to determine responsibility in the event on an accident.

Such a device shall record when the autonomous function was active, when the driver drove and when the system requested that the driver should take over. Under the proposal from Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, drivers will not have to pay attention to traffic or concentrate on steering, but they must remain seated at the wheel and intervene in case of an emergency.

According to a transport ministry spokesperson, the legislation is due to be sent to other ministries for approval this summer, especially as Germany wants to become a global leader in the market for self-driving vehicles.

More and more car makers trying to bring this innovative technology in mainstream car manufacturing, with various companies announcing their plans to produce at least partially-autonomous vehicles, if not fully by 2020. Meanwhile, consumer groups in the United States are insisting that the government slow down the push for autonomous vehicles until the system is proven completely safe