China enhances legal framework for autonomous vehicles in draft road safety law revisions

China has set a dedicated chapter on autonomous vehicles in its draft revisions to the Road Traffic Safety Law, seeking to strengthen the legal framework for its rapidly developing autonomous driving sector.

The draft defines autonomous vehicles and driver-assistance functions, clarifies the conditions for autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads, sets principles for handling traffic violations, and outlines insurance arrangements for such vehicles.

It specifies that when a road traffic safety violation occurs while an autonomous vehicle's autonomous-driving function is activated, the vehicle's manufacturer or importer shall be responsible for handling the violation.

The draft was submitted for its first reading to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, which runs from Tuesday to Friday.

The current Road Traffic Safety Law took effect in 2004, with individual provisions amended in 2007, 2011 and 2021. The latest draft revisions represent a more substantial revision, aimed at keeping pace with economic and social development, addressing people's needs and enhancing road safety.