Covéa Insurance joins the Automated Driving Insurer Group

The Automated Driving Insurer Group, established in 2015, was formed to generate opinion on key insurance and liability issues relating to automated driving on UK roads. It looks at Association of British Insurers (ABI) policy and works with the Government to shape any necessary legislation (includes Thatcham Research representation).

Barry Street, Head of Engineers at Covéa Insurance was made a member in 2015 and will be contributing to the discussions on such matters. Barry explained:

“We are actively looking to support the positive progress and innovation in relation to the future presence of driverless cars on UK roads. There has already been degrees of development towards autonomous vehicles and with the inclusion of autonomous emergency braking, this offers a great potential to dramatically reducing deaths and injuries on the roads. Motor insurance is one of the business sectors likely to be most affected. By reducing collisions and injuries this could help to bring down insurance premiums.”  

About the Automated Driving Insurer Group:

Clearing the way for driverless cars – an insurance commitment

UK motor insurers are committing themselves to helping smooth the path of driverless cars onto UK roads, with the launch of a new initiative to address some of the issues which need to be overcome.

With 94% of road accidents caused by human error, the development of increasingly automated vehicles has huge implications for road safety. Truly driverless cars are also likely to revolutionise life for people with mobility issues.

A group of 11 UK motor insurers, led by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Thatcham Research, has now been formed to consider key issues relating to automated driving on UK roads, particularly concerning insurance and liability. The Automated Driving Insurer Group will feed into ABI policy and work with the Government on shaping the future of automated vehicle use in the UK.

Some key issues already identified include:

o    Who could be held liable after an accident – drivers, manufacturers, system developers, car    dealers, car maintenance firms or a combination?

o    How to cope with vehicles at different levels of automation

o    How data from individual vehicles will be recorded and used to improve safety and clarify liability

o    Whether there need to be changes to existing road traffic laws and what those changes might be

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