Govt to amend law allowing automated driving systems

The government has proposed to bring amendments to the international Vienna Convention on Road Traffic law with the view to allow the use of automated driving systems.

The President is expected to approve the proposed amendments on Friday, said the Ministry of Transport and Communications in a press release on Thursday.

Preparations for amending the national legislation will continue by Ministry officials and working groups.

The decision on the possible approval of the amendments should be notified to the UN Secretary-General by 15 January 2022.

The amendments may enter into force on 15 July 2022 at the earliest.

Finland has actively promoted transport automation, which is why the adoption and international entry into force of the amendments are important for Finland.

Along with the amendments, an Article would be added to the Convention to allow the use of automated driving systems.

In practice, this means that a vehicle could have an automated driving system instead of being controlled by an individual.

However, in order to be approved, the driving systems would have to comply with national rules and international technical regulations.

The aim of the amendments is to ensure that international and national legislation allow the development and introduction of transport automation and the resulting benefits: safer, more efficient and more sustainable transport.

In order for the amendments to be applied, the national legislation will also have to be changed. This process has already started. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring road safety, traffic control and the definition of legal responsibility as the number of automated vehicles on the road network increases.