Eleven major UK auto insurers are joining forces to explore the insurance and liability issues of automated vehicles emerging onto public roads.
The starting point for their new Automated Driving Insurer Group is the fact that, with 94% of road accidents caused by human error, the new technological developments 'have huge implications for road safety'.
Key focus areas are the attribution of liability after an accident, the problems likely to be caused by vehicles operating at different levels of automation, and potential changes to existing traffic laws.
Led by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and vehicle safety knowledge centre Thatcham Research, the group is working closely with the Department for Transport. ABI director of general insurance policy, James Dalton said: 'Truly driverless cars have the potential dramatically to reduce deaths and injuries on roads. Contrary to what some people might expect, insurers are actively looking to support progress and innovation'.
Meanwhile, a poll carried out by YouGov for innovation hub the Transport Systems Catapult has found that 61% of adults living in Milton Keynes are actively interested in the driverless Pathfinder pods being tested on the city's pavements and in pedestrianised areas, as compared with 38% among respondents in the UK as a whole. The Catapult, which is based in Milton Keynes, is overseeing the project. Its CEO, Steve Yianni said: 'Familiarity with the trials is helping to improve public attitudes towards the technology'. Key concerns are safety, followed by the risk of breakdowns.
