South Africa will see its first public autonomous vehicle trials during transport month in October this year.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Engineering news<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0executive director of the\u00a0Mobility Centre\u00a0for\u00a0Africa (MCA), Victor Radebe, confirmed that the MCA had received government permission for the trials, and that one of\u00a0two electric-powered candidates are currently being considered for the test.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Z10 by EasyMile or the ARMA vehicle by Navya (both headquartered in France) are set to ferry passengers in three high-density locations as part of a trial to determine public perception, viability, and deployment capability in the country.<\/p>\n Radebe said that Durban’s beachfront, Sandton’s Gautrain station, the CSIR’s innovation hub at the University of Pretoria, and the V&A Waterfront have all been earmarked as possible test locations.<\/p>\n Autonomous vehicles<\/strong><\/p>\n In December BusinessTech<\/a> <\/strong>reported that there was a conspicuous lack of regulation surrounding self-driving cars in South Africa.<\/p>\n At the time, Patrick Bracher, director at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, <\/b>explained that the country’s laws may ultimately be similar to the UK’s recently\u00a0published Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n According to the UK’s proposed laws, if an accident is caused by an automated vehicle when driving itself – while insured at the time – and it causes anyone to suffer damages, then the insurer is liable for that damage caused to anyone. If the vehicle is not insured the owner of the vehicle is liable for the damage.<\/p>\n A vehicle is considered to be \u2018driving itself\u2019 if it is operating in a mode in which it is not being controlled, and does not need to be monitored, by an individual. If it is being monitored or controlled, ordinary principles of negligence will presumably apply. The proposed legislation also has a chapter on the recharging of electric vehicles.<\/p>\n If the accident or damage was to any extent caused by the injured party, the law of contributory negligence will be invoked which could result in a lesser fine or sentence.<\/p>\n The Bill also deals with an accident resulting from unauthorised software alterations or failure to update software \u2013 cover may be excluded for that conduct. Insurers will be given a subrogated right (right to go directly after third-party) to claim against the person responsible for the accident.<\/p>\n
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