Autonomous car rules advancing faster than the vehicles themselves: UN

Geneva: Fully autonomous cars are still years away from hitting the streets, but internationally agreed rules on their use could be ready by mid 2026,...

Geneva: Fully autonomous cars are still years away from hitting the streets, but internationally-agreed rules on their use could be ready by mid-2026, the United Nations has said.

Safety concerns and the cost of developing next-level systems have slowed down progress on autonomous vehicles, but work on regulations is motoring ahead, said the UN.

"While the hype may be slowly disappearing, the actual serious work on regulation is advancing," UNECE agency's deputy executive secretary Dmitry Mariyasin told reporters.

Established in 1952, the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations meets three times a year, bringing together countries, carmakers and technology giants. This week's gathering in Geneva is the main annual session.

The forum takes place under UNECE, the UN Economic Commission for Europe, which shapes the legal framework for inland transport.