Navigating the future: Germany’s Autonomous Driving Act

This article by Timon Plass deals with the Autonomous Driving Act that took effect in Germany on July 28, 2021, introducing significant and comprehensive amendments to the German Road Traffic Law. Chief among these are the detailed criteria for vehicles equipped with autonomous driving capabilities, which adhere to the SAE-Level 4 classification as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). With the Act, Germany has assumed a pioneering and leading role in establishing the technical requirements necessary for autonomous vehicles to operate and defining the fundamental responsibilities of the involved parties during operation.