Germany: Federal cabinet passes ordinance on autonomous driving
The federal government has passed the regulation of the operation of motor vehicles with automated and autonomous driving functions and on the amendment of road traffic regulations presented by the Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, which completes the national legal framework for autonomous driving.
The regulation essentially regulates:
- the test and procedure for granting an operating license for motor vehicles with autonomous driving functions;
- the requirements and the detailed procedure for the approval of the specified operating area for traffic of a specific motor vehicle with autonomous driving function on public roads;
- supplementary regulations for the registration of the motor vehicle;
- detailed regulations on the obligations of those involved;
- new testing regulations;
- administrative offenses and
- in its appendix details the technical requirements for the construction, the condition, the equipment for motor vehicles with autonomous driving functions.
In addition to the technical regulations, the core of the ordinance is the regulation of the procedure for the approval of motor vehicles with autonomous driving functions for road traffic. In order to enable regular operation of these vehicles on public roads in defined operating areas, no individual technical exemptions from the respective federal state should be required. Therefore, with the amendment of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) in the summer of last year, a generally applicable three-stage procedure was specified.
The Bundesrat must now give its approval for the ordinance to come into force.
The text of the ordinance is available HERE.