📋 Tender Overview
With the operation of automated vehicles the issue of responsibility has also emerged: in the event of a traffic incident or accident it must be possible to clearly demonstrate whether a human or an automated system was in control at that moment. Therefore vehicles are required to be equipped with a recording device known as a black box.
In general all passenger vehicles (category M1 max. 8+1) and small commercial vehicles (N1 up to 3.5 tons) will be required to be equipped with advanced recording devices - Event Data Recorder (EDR) from July 2024.
Automated vehicles with the ALKS system (Level SAE 3) are also equipped with another recording device - DSSAD (Data Storage System for Automated Driving).
EDR records data about the vehicles operation and events during a collision such as speed brake status or airbag activation. The data is protected against manipulation and misuse and must be anonymized to ensure the protection of personal data of drivers and passengers. The main purpose is to reconstruct events during a traffic accident or incident.
DSSAD continuously records key data about the operation of the automated driving system and its interaction with the driver. For example it tracks when the system was active when it prompted the driver to take control and when the driver actually took control or did not respond. Thanks to these records it is possible - especially retrospectively - to determine how the system and the driver reacted during critical events. It is always the case that the data is strictly protected in accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and access to it is available to the police administrative authority or insurance company if necessary during accident investigations.
Responsibility for operation: Who pays for the autopilot error? New legislation effective from January 1 2026 brings a fundamental change in the concept of responsibility. During driving in autopilot mode the driver is not considered a driver in the traditional sense from a legal perspective and does not bear responsibility for adhering to traffic rules that the vehicle has taken over. However they must follow new rules i.e. take control after being prompted by the system and also allow access to driving data for the police or military police.
Individual responsibility: The driver is only responsible for situations where the system was not used in accordance with the manual ignored the prompt to take control or improperly intervened in the system. Objective responsibility of the operator: The operator remains liable for damage caused by the operation of the vehicle through statutory insurance (mandatory liability insurance). This ensures that the injured party will be compensated just like in a regular accident. Recourse against the manufacturer: If it is proven that the accident was caused by a software or technical defect in the system the insurance company may subsequently seek reimbursement from the vehicle manufacturer for the paid compensation.
Inspiration from Germany: The system is already functioning in practice Germany was the first country in the world in 2017 to create a legal framework for SAE Level 3. Since 2022 the first series-produced cars with a certified SAE Level 3 system have been available in Germany which can operate in real traffic under limited conditions.
Currently Germany has approved a speed limit of up to 95 km/h on highways in smooth traffic or 65 km/h depending on the type of vehicle system.
The future: What awaits us in the coming years? The Ministry of Transport as part of the Plan for Autonomous Mobility by 2025 with a view to 2030 focuses on further infrastructure development. The main priorities include:
Supporting the development of accurate digital data and high-speed connectivity that will allow vehicles to communicate safely with infrastructure (V2X) in cooperation with manufacturers managers and technology operators. Teleoperation (remote control): Preparation of regulations for situations where an uncrewed vehicle could be remotely controlled by an operator. Urban mobility: Testing autonomous shuttles in closed areas and gradually in selected urban parts. Education: Updating questions in driving schools so that new drivers are aware of the specifics and limits of these technologies.
The technological evolution associated with automated driving represents a significant step towards increasing road safety and greater transparency in accident investigations. It is also an opportunity to strengthen the competitiveness of the Czech automotive industry which is one of the most important sectors of our economy.
