By insurers, for insurers: The UK’s liability regime for autonomous vehicles

The United Kingdom has enacted legislation to govern the liability of highly autonomous vehicles. The chosen method is peculiar, with liability placed on motor (auto) insurers despite the lack of a corresponding liability on road users. This article seeks to explain why the UK government was so invested in maintaining mass market motor insurance policies (instead of a system based on motor manufacturer liability) and suggests that the answer lies in insurers’ desire to harvest customer data. We are the product.