Administrative regulations for automated road transport systems

Law No. 2019-1428 of 24 December 2019 on the orientation of mobility (LOM law) has opened up the possibility of adapting legislation to the operation of automated driving vehicles on public roads.

The operating conditions for automated vehicles and the associated liability rules were then defined by Ordinance 2021-443 of 14 April 2021 and then specified by Decree 2021-873 of 29 June 2021.

The laws that form the basis of all the rules applicable to automated road transport systems are now grouped together in the French Transport Code.

The Decree of 29 June 2021 sets out:

• the conditions for the operation of automated driving vehicles (French Highway Code) and automated road transport systems (French Transport Code). It covers levels of automation up to fully automated vehicles (with no driver on board), provided they are supervised by a remote operator and operated on predefined lanes or areas.
• definitions and general safety provisions for these systems, as well as requirements for the driver or remote operator.
• the conditions under which automated road transport systems (including vehicles, equipment on the route or allowing remote intervention, and operating procedures) can be put into service, after a specific safety demonstration process.
• STRMTG work related to automated road transport systems.