Literature review of legal frameworks and liability allocation in connected and automated vehicles

The rise of Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) of SAE Levels 3–5 is widely expected to ease traffic congestion, reduce road crashes and lower vehicle emissions. At the same time, the shift to automation might also create potential risks, especially during the transitional phase, where conventional and automated vehicles of different levels of automation will coexist on the same network. In mixed-traffic conditions, the interactions of CAVs, conventional vehicles, and vulnerable road users (VRUs) are expected to introduce new road safety and operational challenges, that existing regulations were not designed to address. In that context, the objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of current literature in order to identify critical knowledge gaps especially in the design of robust legal frameworks and clarify the impacts of liability allocation regimes on CAVs adoption and operation. By addressing these issues, the paper aims to guide interested stakeholders such as, policymakers, researchers and industry leaders in shaping a transition to automated mobility that is not only safer and more efficient, but is also supported by clear, effective, and trustworthy legal frameworks.