Could driverless cars mean the end of speeding tickets? Insurers or software developers could be forced to pay penalties
CAR insurers or software developers could have to stump up for speeding fines racked up by driverless cars.
Drivers won't be at fault if autonomous motors break the road rules in the future but cops would still want to track down the cash.
And MPs discussing driverless car laws in Parliament questioned whether insurers should have to pay up instead.
While driverless cars should never break the speed limit, quick-changing variable signs on smart motorways or software malfunctions could all catch self-driving motors out.
Tory MP Oliver Letwin quizzed industry experts on what would happen if it was "slow in responding to a change in signage".
He said: "Should the insurers pay the speeding fine?"
The industry refuted the idea and said while it was happy to continue to pick up the tab in accidents involving driverless cars it wouldn't do the same for speeding - or parking.
Ben Howarth of the Association of British Insurers, said: "The bill does not compel insurers to pay these fines. We wouldn't support it if it did."
It could mean software developers are on the hook if driverless car don't work properly and commit a road offence.
The laws will be built into the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill that's currently going through the House of Commons.
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It outlines how drivers will continue to have personal insurance with the insurers covering any damages and then deciding where to recover costs from - most likely the software developer or car manufacturer if the car malfunctioned.
But we previously revealed how insurers may have a "get out of jail free" card for claims if owners haven't kept their cars up to date.
If it's using old software and has a crash, the "driver" would be liable for repairs.
