The Regulation of Autonomous Driving in California

According to one popular saying, “As California goes, so goes the nation.” In terms of social and political changes, California has been a pioneer within the United States for many decades. Likewise, Silicon Valley in California has led the nation in technological changes since the semiconductor revolution began over 60 years ago. The same holds true for law. Legal developments in California frequently set a trend within the United States. For instance, strict product liability—liability of a manufacturer without the need to prove the manufacturer’s fault—originated from a 1962 California Supreme Court case. The same is true regarding regulating autonomous driving in California. The statutes regulations and product liability doctrines that apply to autonomous driving lead to the states in the United States.