b'Demands and Dangers of Drones and Driverless Cars T henumberofunmannedair- a threat to personal privacy because ofStreet Journal published an article ti-craft systems (UAS), commonlytheir ability to collect massive amountstled, Liability Issues Create Potholes referred to as drones, is rap- ofunsoliciteddata,whichcreatesaon the Road to Driverless Cars, and in idlyincreasing.TheFederalAviationproblemforinsurancecarriers.Inan article last year published in the San Administration (FAA) has determined2013, the Drone Aircraft Privacy andDiego Union-Tribune, the issue of lia-that small UAS are currently the mostTransparency Act was introduced as ability, if not solved, could delay or even dynamic growth sector within the avi- regulatory scheme for the private usewipe out the vision of driverless cars ation industry. By 2020, it is predictedofdrones,includingprivacyprotec- gaining widespread consumer use. thatabout30,000small,unmannedtion, data collection and enforcement. aircraftwillbeusedforamultitudeCommercialliabilityinsurancecov- While accidents involving autonomous of business purposes. Drones also canerageshouldincludeprotectionforvehicles will bring challenging liability equip infrared sensors, high-poweredpersonal injury, which covers invasionissues front and center, Tesla Motors cameras,facialrecognitiontechnolo- of privacy.Inc. says driver inputs could be a solu-gy and license plate readers. With thetion. Tesla is implementing semiauto-growing drone market comes a list ofWhataboutrecreationaldrones?Anomousfeaturesintotheirvehicles, security, safety and liability concerns.typical homeowners insurance policysuch as triggering the passing function TheFAAfacesthedauntingtaskofexcludes liability coverage for businessby engaging the turn signal. This tells trying to make UAS safe by developingactivitiesandaircraft,butprovidesthe car it can pass, and it also shows procedurestoavoidin-aircollisionscoverageforhobbyaircraftnotde- the driver knew of their surroundings, and deal with privacy issues. Dronessigned to carry people or cargo. Checkgave thought to the action and decided canflyintheairspaceaboveprivatewith your insurance agent to be sure. itwassafe.Thedrivertakesrespon-property,consideredeavesdropping,sibilityfortheconsequencesofthe trespassing,stalking,orharassmentSimilarly,liabilityissuesarisewithsemiautonomous function. The driver ontheground.Insurancecompaniesautonomousor driverless vehicles.is never exempt from traffic laws even arealsograpplingwiththeliabilityEvery year, more automatic safety fea- if they arent physically driving the car risks of drones. tures, like collision avoidance brakingevery moment.andsteering,areintroducedinnew Personalinjuryandinvasionofpri- cars.WhileautonomousvehiclesareBothdronesanddriverlessvehicles vacy are the two biggest drone issuessupposedtomakeroadtravelsafer,have a multitude of problems to sort intheinsuranceindustry.Toassesswhathappensifautomationcausesoutregardingliability,privacyand andunderwritetherisk,commercialthe accident?insurance issues. But the demand for liability insurance companies want in- thesetechnologieswontbedenied formation on the function and intentThis issue is a danger to the future ofby the current challenges. Within the of UAS, takeoff and landing locations,driverless cars and may push back thenext20years,wellbecomfortably flying altitude and whether drones willtimelineforfullyautonomouscarscoexistingwiththeserevolutionary fly over populated areas. UAS presentin the marketplace. In 2013 The Walltransportation and delivery systems.332015 REACHINGOUT-CURRENT.indd 31 12/10/15 10:44 AM'