Japanese government adopts bill for driverless cars under certain conditions

The central government on Friday adopted a bill to revise the road traffic law that would legalize delivery robots and driverless cars under certain conditions. The bill, to be introduced during the current session of parliament, also calls for the creation of a permit system for businesses providing such services. Also planned are new rules on the use of electric kick scooters. If the bill covering what the government calls Level 4 autonomy is enacted, the new rules will come into force within a year for driverless cars and delivery robots and within two years for electric scooters. By the end of March 2023, the government aims to realize mobility services using unmanned autonomous vehicles as a means of transportation for elderly people in depopulated areas.