Southampton: Clarke Willmott considers legal implications of driverless cars

Against the background of a major consultation, launched by the Department for Transport, aimed at paving the way for automated cars to be to be insured for use on British roads, Clarke Willmott LLP has set up a nationwide team to look into the legal implications.

The firm says it is essential for all concerned to have a say on a technology that will overhaul the Highway Code and entail a radical review of insurance law so that tomorrow’s motorists can be insured properly once they have handed the control to a 'self-driving' system.

Philip Edwards, partner, said: “This technology has massive implications for all road users, not just motorists. Businesses should particularly be looking at these proposals. Our own team will be looking at how the changes affect aspects of the law, including personal injury, product liability and intellectual property.”

Consultation on the changes began this week and will last for nine weeks.