Conclusion

This study aimed to obtain an overview of the governance strategies adopted so far in various countries in response to AV developments. As the basis of our analysis of government responses, we identified different technological risks associated with AVs and focused on five categories of risks: safety, liability, privacy, cybersecurity, and industry influence. Research shows that AV-related safety risks may arise from the less cautious behaviour of vehicle occupants and road users, system errors, and the lack of regulation of crash algorithms that determine life or death situations during inevitable accidents. Safety performance may improve over time if the public accepts mass deployment, which would allow AVs to gain more real-world driving experience. In response, most national governments have avoided using overly stringent measures to manage safety risks and have adopted light control-oriented strategies in the form of non-mandatory AV testing guidelines with the aim of promoting AV development. Given that AV development is at an early stage, councils or working groups have been created to explore the implications of the technology. Germany and Singapore have advanced to implement new regulations whereas China and Japan are currently developing regulation to regulate safety in AV testing. Australia has sought public consensus to address AV safety risks, demonstrating a move towards an adaptation-oriented strategy.
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