BMW Electric Test Car Involved In Fatal Crash

Initial police reports raised questions regarding whether the driver of the fully electric BMW iX car had been actively steering the vehicle at the time of the accident. The car in question had veered onto the opposite lane of the B28 federal road near the south-western town of Roemerstein, crashing into two other vehicles and indirectly causing another collision.

Traffic police have launched an investigation into the accident, which resulted in the death of a 33-year-old woman and severely injured nine other people, including the 43-year-old driver of the BMW and his 18-month-old passenger. 

“The vehicle has a level two driving assistance system that is already incorporated in production vehicles today and which can support the driver on demand,” the company said in an emailed statement, denying the police claims that the car in question was “autonomous”. 

“With level two vehicles the driver always retains responsibility,” it added.

Such systems can brake automatically, accelerate and, unlike Level 1 systems, take over steering, according to BMW’s website.

Reutlingen police spokesman Michael Schaal said four rescue helicopters were involved in the medical response and the injured were taken to several hospitals in the region.

At the time, Schaal stated that it was unclear whether the driver at the wheel of the BMW test car was actively steering the vehicle at the time of the crash.

“We are in the process of investigating the exact circumstances [of the crash],” BMW said. “Of course, we are in close contact with authorities.”

Currently, fully driverless cars are not legally permitted in the UK. However, autonomous features are being developed by car makers and tested in specific trials such as a bus service in Scotland, and earlier this year the UK Transport Select Committee announced it had opened an investigation into the potential of autonomous cars. 

In preparation for the arrival of this technology, UK authorities are expected to make changes to the Highway Code to ensure insurance companies rather than individuals are liable for claims resulting from crashes involving these vehicles. 

According to the Department for Transport, autonomous driving is expected to improve road safety by reducing human error, which has been identified as the cause of 88 per cent of all traffic accidents.

Source: E&T