Driverless Car Bill Speeding Through Congress?

The New Year means a fresh session of Congress in Washington D.C. and another opportunity for lawmakers to move legislation that could fast track driverless cars. That’s likely to also bring another round of debate over safety concerns about putting autonomous vehicles on the road, even when a human is in the driver’s seat.

A last ditch effort to get a sprawling driverless car bill through the Senate hit a snag in December. Lawmakers will have to start the process over again in 2019, once the new Congress is seated. Although a version of the American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act was passed in the House in 2017, the bill ran into some opposition in the Senate.

The legislation would put regulating autonomous vehicles largely in the hands of the federal government, but it would prevent the feds from recalling driverless cars based on reports from automakers. It would also limit the kind of safety and other information that the Transportation Department can make public.

Debate Continues

The measure’s supporters say the sooner driverless vehicles become a reality, the better. They argue that autonomous vehicles will cut down on accidents and fatalities by removing human error from the equation.

The bills critics say it would move driverless cars too fast too soon. They point to recent crashes involving test driverless vehicles—operated autonomously but with a driver behind the wheel—as examples of the risk.

“Our neighborhood streets should not be turned into industry proving grounds,” the Center for Auto Safety said in a recent statement.

How California’s Lemon Laws Protect Vehicle Owners

The driverless car debate highlights the safety concerns that come with life on the road, whether you’re doing the driving yourself or laying back and letting an autonomous vehicle do the work. There are still important and complicated legal questions to be decided about who is liable in the event that driverless car defects cause an accident.

The good news for anyone dealing with a malfunctioning vehicle in the Golden State is that California’s “Lemon Law” offers some protection. Qualifying Californians whose cars are not working properly, despite attempts at repairs, can force a manufacturer to repay them for the vehicle or replace it with one that works.

Talk With an Experienced Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney

If you’re a California car owner with a lemon, it’s important that you consult an experienced lawyer to consider your rights and options. The Los Angeles Lemon Law attorneys at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. We understand the significant stress that can come with haggling with car dealers and manufacturers. Our lawyers work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent.

Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.