Regulating Teleoperation on Public Roads: Key Takeaways From an Expert Workshop

Teleoperation is considered an interim solution for the introduction of automated vehicles in public transport. It describes the possibility for a remote driver to take control of the vehicle if there are uncertainties regarding the current driving situation. Despite the efforts of researchers and legislators and the obvious advantages of the technology, explicit regulations for teleoperation are still pending. One reason for this is the absence of clarity regarding which aspects need to be regulated and in what form. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of different categories and specifications that need to be defined to support the derivation of legal requirements. For this purpose, we conducted a workshop in Germany with experts from various disciplines who have been involved in the integration of automated driving for many years. Based on insights from the fields of law, technology, human factors, and licensing authorities, a list of the requirements was developed. By presenting a holistic approach, the results should help to develop a common consensus on the scope of the regulations and to define clear requirements and specifications for the approval process of teleoperation on public roads.