Politecnico di Milano calls for clear autonomous driving regulations in Italy

The European Autonomous Driving Observatory at Politecnico di Milano has issued a call for clearer regulatory frameworks to support the development of autonomous vehicles in Italy. While the new Highway Code has begun to recognize automated vehicles, experts argue that current rules are insufficient for the transition from experimental testing to commercial services.

A primary obstacle is establishing the specific conditions under which a vehicle can operate without an onboard human driver. Current regulations largely require a controller to be present to intervene during emergencies, leaving the possibility of remote supervision uncertain.

The Observatory has identified three key priorities to move the sector forward: establishing certain timelines for when missing regulations will become operational, defining responsibilities that are proportionate to the actual role of each participant, and implementing transparent authorization procedures.