The Ministry of Transport explained in detail who is to blame for accidents with unmanned vehicles

The Ministry of Transport has finalized the bill on highly automated vehicles (HATS), which explains in detail who will be held responsible for accidents with unmanned vehicles.

In a document on the basic conditions under which drones can travel on roads:

▪️ Availability of “on-board device event registration”

▪️ The presence of the system allows you to remotely transfer the car to a “minimal risk state” (when the autopilot is turned off, the car stops in a safe and permitted place for passengers to exit)

▪️ Latest firmware updates installed

▪️ The car is registered with the traffic police.

In the case of an accident with an unmanned vehicle, the main responsibility for damage caused to life, health, property of “third parties, the environment” will be borne by the owner of the car, unless he proves that the damage arose as a result of “force majeure or the intent of the victim.”

He will also have the opportunity to shift the blame to the manufacturer, but only if it is proven that the accident occurs due to “design features (flaws) of the control system or VATS as a whole.”

If an accident occurs due to “failure to exercise supervisory control,” responsibility will be transferred to the dispatcher – an employee who remotely monitors the condition of the car and, if necessary, disables the autopilot.

If an accident occurs due to poor maintenance, the responsibility will fall on the dealer.

Only traffic police officers will be able to register an accident with VATS. The European protocol will be prohibited in this case.

According to the plan, the law of the Ministry of Transport should come into force on September 1, 2025. Also in 2025, unmanned driving on public roads may be allowed in Russia. [Коммерсантъ]