An amendment draft to the "Road Traffic" law has been included in the agenda of the Milli Mejlis's Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship.
The draft also reflects requirements concerning the operation of autonomous, i.e., driverless vehicles.
According to the draft, autonomous vehicles will be able to move only in areas and on roads designated by authorized state bodies.
The draft indicates that the control systems of autonomous vehicles will be integrated into a special control center. This center will monitor their movement, store data on their activity, and take measures to withdraw the vehicle from operation if necessary.
The control center will be able to suspend the operation of an autonomous vehicle if a malfunction is detected in the vehicle or its control system, if it deviates from the designated route, or if the road conditions pose a danger.
There are no driverless cars in Azerbaijan. In this case, what is the purpose of such a law? Is preparation underway for the operation of driverless cars in the country?
Medianews.az asked this question and transportation expert Elmaddin Muradli answered that technologies are rapidly developing worldwide, and Azerbaijan must always be ready and open to these changes: "This also includes the improvement and strengthening of the legislative base. In fact, such cars already exist and operate in Azerbaijan. However, there are certain gaps regarding their operation. For example, if the driver is not behind the wheel, what should the approach be? According to our legislation, the driver must be seated behind the wheel with their hand on it. Even taking one's hand off the wheel creates responsibility. But in autonomous cars, the system is structured so that you can activate automated control and even lie down behind the wheel. The car drives itself and takes you to the destination pre-entered and programmed in the navigation. These are different issues, and therefore all of them must be reflected in the law."
If you are operating an autonomous vehicle, there should be corresponding requirements; you should know under which conditions you must move. For example, no one can operate an autonomous vehicle on Neftchilar Avenue in the capital. If it is a highway, then yes, you can operate there. This is the worldwide approach to such cars."
According to E. Muradli, the proposed amendments to the "Road Traffic" law are completely fair: "The relevant authorities will determine the rules and establish normative legal acts. Under what circumstances should an autonomous vehicle be removed from road traffic, stopped, simply put, towed to a penalty area, and fined? The regulation of these and other issues by law is essential, and the amendments currently on the parliamentary committee’s agenda serve this purpose."
Nailə Qasımova,
Medianews.az