That made me remember:
"...but regulatory barriers in the US could be significant"
At that time I was still smiling. If politicians have their way, Germany should become a pioneer in something... And in addition in autonomous driving?!! Of course, I believe that right away, I thought ironically at the time
...Germany becomes a pioneer...
"
Germany to become a pioneer in autonomous driving
The German parliament has passed a legal framework for autonomous driving. Driverless vehicles could be participating in road traffic as early as next year.
Updated May 21, 2021, 8:40 a.m. Source: ZEIT ONLINE, dpa, Reuters, lu
Germany is to become an international pioneer in autonomous driving. A law passed by the Bundestag late Thursday evening is therefore intended to facilitate and enable the use of autonomous cars and buses throughout Germany. Driverless vehicles of the so-called level four could thus participate in regular public road traffic on certain specified routes as early as next year.
In fully automated level four driving, the computer can take complete control of the car in certain applications without being monitored by a human driver. In emergencies, the system will also bring the vehicle to a stop at the side of the road. According to the Ministry of Transport, this technology could be used for shuttle services or freight transport, for example. Germany would thus be the first country to put cars without drivers into regular operation.
Until now, autonomous vehicles have only been used with special permits, for example on company premises as so-called people movers. In addition, the auto industry has already installed automatic systems for overtaking, lane changing or braking in high-end models. The goal is fully autonomous driving, which should also bring the number of fatalities and injuries in road traffic to almost zero.
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) praised the decision:
"With the adoption of the law on autonomous driving, Germany has the opportunity to become the first and so far only nation to have created a framework for a technology of the future," said VDA President Hildegard Müller. "Customers, industry and Germany as a business location will benefit enormously from this." She added that the German automotive industry could become a global market leader in this field.
In order to pass the new legal framework, the states would now also have to agree in the Bundesrat.
Müller called for the law to be passed before the Bundestag elections. Otherwise, the country would lose "at least one and a half years" and put its technological progress at risk, the association president warned. Moreover, in addition to the legal framework, the technical prerequisites must now be created very soon. To this end, she said, it is necessary to put the approval and operating ordinance needed for autonomous driving into force as quickly as possible."
https://www.zeit.de/mobilitaet/2021-05/bundestag-autonomes-fahren-gesetz-verkehrspolitik-strassenverkehr?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/
And
indeed:
"
Autonomous driving law comes into force
27.07.2021
Germany is to take a leading role in autonomous driving. In order to make the most of the great potential of autonomous and connected driving, the German government wants to drive research and development forward and thus make the mobility of the future more versatile, safer, environmentally friendly and user-oriented.
The BMDV is working intensively to further improve the framework conditions: On June 21, 2017, the Automated Driving Act (amendment of the Road Traffic Act) already came into force. The core of this was changed rights and obligations of the vehicle driver during the automated driving phase. This means that automated systems (level 3) are allowed to take over the driving task under certain conditions. A driver is still required, however, who is allowed to turn away from traffic and vehicle control in automated mode.
Now comes the next step: with the new law on autonomous driving, we have created the legal framework for autonomous motor vehicles
(stage 4) to be able to drive in regular operation in defined operating areas on public roads - and this nationwide.
This will make Germany the first country in the world to bring driverless vehicles out of research and into everyday use.
The goal is to bring vehicles with autonomous driving functions into regular operation by 2022.
Flexibility is at the forefront of the law: the operation of driverless vehicles is made possible for a maximum number of deployment scenarios. Limited only locally to a defined area of operation, the various use cases are not conclusively regulated in advance. Individual permits, exceptions and requirements such as the presence of a safety driver who is always ready to intervene are therefore unnecessary.
The application scenarios include:
- Shuttle transports from A to B,
- People movers (buses that travel on a fixed route),
- Hub2Hub transports (e.g. between two distribution centers),
- demand-responsive services during off-peak hours,
- first-mile or last-mile transportation of people and/or goods,
- "dual mode vehicles" such as in Automated Valet Parking (AVP).
The law newly regulates the following matters, among others:
- Technical requirements for the construction, condition and equipment of motor vehicles with autonomous driving functions,
- Testing and procedures for the granting of an operating permit for motor vehicles with autonomous driving functions by the Federal Motor Transport Authority,
- Regulations relating to the obligations of persons involved in the operation of motor vehicles with autonomous driving functions,
- Regulations relating to data processing during the operation of motor vehicles with autonomous driving functions,
- Enabling the (subsequent) activation of automated and autonomous driving functions of already type-approved motor vehicles ("dormant functions"),
- Furthermore, adapting and creating uniform regulations to enable the testing of automated and autonomous motor vehicles.
At the same time, the automotive industry is to intensify its efforts on autonomous driving. As agreed at the third meeting of the "Concerted Action on Mobility" on September 8, 2020, the industry intends to make consistent use of the testing opportunities in Germany in order to make automated and autonomous vehicles "tangible" - especially in rural areas.
The BMDV will evaluate the effects of the law after the end of 2023 - in particular with a view to developments in the field of autonomous driving in the meantime and the updating of international regulations as well as compatibility with data protection regulations. The German Bundestag will be informed of the results.
International legislation
The law on autonomous driving is an interim solution until harmonized regulations are in place at the international level. With a view to harmonized markets and standards,
Germany has a great interest in the creation of higher-level rules. The BMDV will work resolutely to further develop the legal framework at EU and UNECE level.
Germany is already an international driver of innovation:
thanks in part to a German initiative, the Level 3 lane-keeping system (ALKS - Automated Lane Keeping System) for speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour on highways, which can be used in traffic jams, for example, was adopted at UN level. Extensions to the UN regulation on ALKS are also currently being worked on with active German participation. The aim is to enable a speed extension up to 130 kilometers per hour and the system's lane-changing capability.
On the timetable:
- The draft bill was approved by the Cabinet on February 10, 2021, and subsequently forwarded to the German Bundestag and Bundesrat.
- The Bundesrat commented on the draft bill on March 26, 2021.
- Following a public hearing of experts in the lead committee for transport and digital infrastructure (AfVI) in the German Bundestag on May 03, 2021, the AfVI approved the bill subject to an amendment by the coalition factions at its 113th meeting on May 19, 2021.
- The EU notification procedure initiated in parallel was completed on May 10, 2021.
- The Bundestag passed the bill on May 20, 2021.
- The Bundesrat approved the draft on May 28, 2021.
- It was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette on July 27, 2021.
- The law thus entered into force on July 28, 2021."
https://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Artikel/DG/gesetz-zum-autonomen-fahren.html
So political support is strong in Germany and they are already influencing the other nations
Today I no longer laugh about it. But I smile when I see this and think of Akida, and I
smile broadly
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