Trucking Company Begins Testing Fully Unmanned Rigs In Florida

Driverless auto's seem to be part of our future (with little in the way of debate) but I really wish Highway's were not used as development labs for these firms. The downside risk is just too great.

Driverless autos is a Florida tradition.

Would have been nice if the truck that killed all the cyclists in NH had been driverless - perhaps the whole thing could have been avoided.

#delicious

@CL- Good point. The first fatal accident caused by a driverless vehicle should prove to be an interesting discussion within the legal community. I'd love to hear a lawyer explain the liabilities and criminality of such an event.

MY martini buddy says you can sue the manufacturer of the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle, and the state and he's an adept trial lawyer.

@MD - I can see where the car owner is still thought to be on the hook. The car did not decide to drive to the Starbucks by itself. I still find it a bit grey as it was the car/its software that causes the accident as the owner could be home on the couch. A bit like dog bit laws where you can be sued for damage your dog does to others.

The Legal Liability of a Driverless Vehicle is not as hard to understand as you would think

1 - THe State requires there be Liability insurance on the Vehicle and that would be the first option. Consider the Truck to be like a person - and you sue ITS Insurance Company. (You actually sue the driver - except in this case it is not a person)
2 - In most accidents, if the driver does not have enough insurance to cover, IF there is another owner of the Vehicle - you sue them for indirect responsibility - and their personal Liability Insurance and their Assets would come into play. In this Truck case - it is likely you simply will sue the owner of the vehicle for an Autonomous vehicle - even if they were not in the car - since it is likely that the insurance on the Vehicle will be in the name of the owner.

And even today - you really cannot sue the manufacturer UNLESS you can prove a defect in the Vehicle - either Mechanical or Software related. The problem - of course - is there are now a lot more possibilities that could drag the Manufacturer into play - so many that I suspect that purchase MIGHT include a Hold Harmless clause for the Manufacturer. ANd these clauses are handled in different ways state to state. I am sure the Manufacturers will come up with some way of not having to appear in countless lawsuits - or it would not be profitable selling the vehicles.

Cost of Insurance is going to be interesting. How are you going to "RATE" the different systems as good drivers or not?

Once again TomM is an idiot. He says: "...And even today - you really cannot sue the manufacturer UNLESS you can prove a defect in the Vehicle..."

The vehicle is involved in a wreck. Clearly the system did not work. That assertion is all that's needed for a civil suit. The company that owned the vehicle is on the line for choosing it.

This will be a civil suit bonanza. Big money payouts are coming.

I lived in Wang State for 14 years -specifically Fort Liquerdle and Miami and driverless vehicles may be a huge improvement in safety with all the shitty drivers. Riding a bike is almost suicide down there with all the New Yorkers that retire and take up driving in the later stages of life. Worst drivers in the whole country...