Autonomous Automobile Regulations

The automotive industry has hinted at and promised self-driving cars since General Motors popularized the idea during the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. It has taken nearly 80 years for mid-twentieth century marketing to become street legal in the twenty-first century, but today there are autonomous vehicles operating in numerous states, including Massachusetts. Traditional automotive companies are behind some of the new models, but not all, as tech companies are introducing their own autonomous vehicles (AVs), from large companies like Google, which has arguably the most well-known self-driving car program, to Cambridge-based nuTonomy, which began testing driverless vehicle technology in the Seaport district in 2017.

This program covers the nascent legal structures governing the technology and discusses how AVs will change key areas of law, including insurance, DUIs, and Fourth Amendment concerns. Attendees learn about the permitting of these vehicles, the relationship between state and federal regulation, and key legal issues to consider as self-driving cars become more commonly available.