Autonomous vehicle law in talks, says minister

CYBERJAYA: Discussions have been held with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to draft and introduce a new legal framework to govern autonomous vehicles on the road, says Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

He said in order for autonomous vehicles to operate in the country, safety regulations and a legal framework must be in place.

He said talks with JPJ were ­centred on the use of autonomous vehicles.

“The talks were on how we can assess all of this and prepare the country for the future to use this technology,” he said when launching Malaysia’s first Vehicle Forensic Laboratory at Menara Cyber Axis here yesterday.

Gobind said his ministry had also begun talks with the Transport Ministry on the autonomous vehicle network.

“We will look into how to develop a legal system that will ensure that the autonomous system is safe because it involves public safety,” he added.

In September last year, Trans­port Minster Anthony Loke said the ministry was considering a new law to govern autonomous vehicles given the advancements in autonomous driving techno­logy.