New technologies

This subtopic contains guidance on EU level rules relating to new technologies, including automated vehicles, drones and connected products.

Automated vehicles

An automated (or autonomous) vehicle, is a vehicle with a collection of systems which remove the need for a human driver to control or even monitor functions such as steering, braking and acceleration and navigation. A fully autonomous vehicle may not require a driver at all. The technology has the potential to transform the transportation sector and create enormous benefits such as a reduced number of road traffic accidents, decreased harm to the environment through vehicle emissions and the opening up of opportunities to those who are currently unable to drive.

All major legislative and policy developments relevant to the EU are tracked in Practice Note: EU automated vehicles—tracker.

The key legal issues raised by the development and use of automated vehicles in the EU are explained in Practice Note: Automated vehicles—key legal issues in the EU. This Practice Note covers key terminology, the current state of EU law, and key issues such as product

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