RESEARCH into the law changes needed if driverless cars were to be introduced in Jersey is being carried out by the government.
The news has been welcomed by Digital Jersey chief executive Tony Moretta, who said it would help “future proof” the Island’s legislation for the technology – which could be applied to several areas of infrastructure including public transport and logistics.
In 2022, it was announced that a three-year review would be conducted by the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission in an attempt to find any legal obstacles to the widespread introduction of driverless cars.
Currently, the Island’s road traffic legislation – drafted in 1956 – does not support complete driver autonomy.
However, the government has said it is “in the very early stages of research into the law changes that might be required in the event that automated vehicles are eventually trialled or introduced in the Island”.
Inspector Callum O’Connor, head of roads policing, said that “a complete overhaul of our road-traffic law” would be required for driverless cars.
“More importantly, we must acknowledge that we have a unique road infrastructure on [the] Island which I am not sure would support the technology. For example, narrow roads with high granite walls.
“However, I do support some current automatic technology in the newer cars which can detect collisions and prevent injuries on our roads,” he added.
Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet last year said that Jersey could be “a great sandbox” for autonomous vehicles.
Speaking to the JEP this week, he said the topic had been raised with him “a while ago”.
Deputy Binet said the government was “keeping an eye on it in line with what is happening in other jurisdictions”.
Mr Moretta said the research was “future proofing our legislation and regulation for the impact of technology”.
He explained that automated vehicles could also be used in public transport, as well as to make deliveries.
“I think it is good that government are looking at things like this because you don’t want to be held back. If the technology is there that somebody buys in a personal car, or if somebody wants to come and test [that technology], if you’ve already got the legislation and regulation to be able to do it that is one less thing to worry about,” he added.
Mr Moretta also explained that the research would have to consider the ethical frameworks programmed into the software of automated vehicles.
He cited the trolley problem, a philosophical thought experiment in which an onlooker has a choice to divert an out-of-control trolley on course to hit five people, onto a different set of tracks where it would kill one person.
This would need to be a consideration for the developers of artificial intelligence within driverless cars, should a situation arise in which a crash was inevitable.
However, Mr Moretta said the Island would be able to look at the technology standards adopted by manufacturers on an international basis, instead of developing its own “from scratch”.
“Car manufacturers [such as] Tesla are not going to think ‘we have to programme our software to work completely differently in Jersey’, these things are going to be done globally.
“At the very least, what Jersey needs to do is understand what is coming down the road – no pun intended – and what systems might have to change.”
The global picture
Automated vehicle technology, including self-driving cars and buses, is being pioneered in several countries around the world, including the United States, China, Germany and France.
