In the UK Department of TransportTraffic regulations amendment planBritish drivers will be allowed to watch TV or movies on the car screen while the vehicle is in the autonomous driving process, but they are still not allowed to use their mobile phones.
In the previous proposalBritish legal regulators believe that if an accident occurs with an autonomous vehicle, the driver should not be held responsible, but rather the company that creates the autonomous driving technology or the manufacturer of the autonomous vehicle. They hope to use this to promote the development of safety technology when using self-driving cars.
Although they are not required to bear any related responsibilities, drivers in the car still need to keep an eye on the road conditions ahead at all times and not do anything that affects autonomous driving. They are also responsible for accidents caused by manual driving, or for not wearing a seat belt or applying for vehicle insurance.
However, a proposed amendment earlier by the UK Department for Transport would apparently relax the requirement that drivers must keep their eyes on the road at all times. This would further require companies that manufacture self-driving cars or provide self-driving technology to provide an accident-free self-driving experience. However, even though drivers are allowed to watch movies or TV while the car's self-driving function is engaged, the UK Department of Transport still prohibits the use of mobile phones while the vehicle is in motion, perhaps out of concern that using a phone could increase distraction and prevent drivers from paying attention to the road ahead.
In addition, the UK Department of Transport has relaxed the conditions to include that vehicles must stay in the same lane, the operating speed must be less than 60 kilometers per hour, and the vehicle must be able to take back control at any time when necessary. This means that drivers still need to pay attention to the road conditions ahead while watching movies or TV.
The British government hopes to establish a complete self-driving car regulatory system by 2025 and accelerate the popularization of self-driving technology, thereby changing the traditional way of moving through vehicles and creating new development possibilities.
