AUTONOMOUS AUTOMOBILE VEHICLES: LEGAL EXPERIENCE OF JAPAN

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to study the law-making and implementation practices in the field of legal regulation of public relations related to the production and operation of autonomous vehicles in Japan. This country occupies one of the leading positions both in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world in terms of technologies and innovations in the field of autonomous driving. Legal acts of this state allowed driving of level 4 autonomy for the first time in 2023. The article reveals the content of the Act of Japan on Amendments to the Road Traffic Act, published on April 27, 2022 and entered into force on April 1, 2023. Intensive work is underway in the Russian Federation to create a draft Federal Statute on highly automated vehicles, which is planned to be submitted to the Parliament of the Russian Federation in 2024. In order to improve the regulatory framework for highly automated vehicles in the Russian Federation, it would be useful to study the legal experience of Japan, accumulated in the field of highly automated vehicles creation and operation. The author analyzes the data presented in the Autonomous Vehicle Readiness Index 2020 and the current situation in the field of autonomous driving in Japan, and comes to the conclusion that Japan has done a lot in recent years to take into account all its mistakes and correct the shortcomings noted in this Index. The study provides an analysis of points of view on the issue of subjects of legal liability in the situation of causing harm as a result of the operation of autonomous vehicles.