Draft Amendment to Road Traffic Safety Law Adds Dedicated Chapter on Autonomous Driving, Assigning Violation Liability to Manufacturers
Nashnova编辑部
China's top legislature began reviewing a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law that assigns traffic-violation liability to automakers when autonomous-driving mode is active — the first time Chinese law formally shifts responsibility from the driver to the manufacturer.
What does this draft actually change?
On August 25, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress began its first review of a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law, adding a dedicated chapter on autonomous vehicles.
This marks the first time Chinese law formally defines the boundary between autonomous driving and assisted driving — and spells out who is liable.
This means → autonomous driving is no longer governed only by industry standards and local pilot rules; it is entering a national legislative framework.
When something goes wrong, who is responsible?
The draft's core rule: when a traffic violation occurs while autonomous-driving mode is activated, liability falls on the vehicle manufacturer or importer, not the driver.
In plain terms = previously, the person behind the wheel was always on the hook; now, if the car is driving itself, the company that built it takes the blame.
This reflects a fundamental shift in legislative logic: whoever controls the vehicle bears the responsibility.
What about assisted driving and cars with autonomous features switched off?
The draft draws a clear boundary: autonomous-capable vehicles with the function not activated, and vehicles with only assisted-driving features, remain subject to existing rules.
This means → in assisted-driving scenarios — lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control — the driver is still liable.
In plain terms = liability shifts to the automaker only when the car is truly "driving itself"; if a human still has the wheel, the human still owns the risk.
How far is this from becoming law?
The draft is at the first-review stage; it must pass several more rounds of deliberation before formal adoption, and specific provisions may change.
This means → the direction is set, but details — liability-determination procedures, insurance requirements, accident-evidence standards — could all be revised in later readings.
For the industry, this is a pivotal checkpoint: whether the liability framework ultimately becomes law will shape the pace of commercialization for every automaker with autonomous ambitions.
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