Driving A Car Remotely Is Now Possible In Germany

The driver doesn’t need to be in the car cabin.

A law came into force in Germany today that allows cars to be controlled remotely, meaning that it is not mandatory for the driver to be in the car’s cabin, but rather that the car can be controlled remotely, for example, from a control center.

“With this regulation, we are creating a clear legal framework for testing remote-controlled vehicles in public road traffic,” said State Secretary for Transport Christian Hirte, while the Ministry of Transport announced that they see concrete applications in the field of “ride sharing.”

According to the statement, the new measure should improve autonomous driving, and the goal is to promote “car sharing” and robo-taxi services.

Remotely operated vehicles could also help make more efficient use of delivery resources in the future.

Until now, there was no legal framework for remote-controlled vehicles in Germany, and the new measure stipulates that anyone who wants to remotely control a vehicle must be at least 21 years old, have held a driver’s license for at least three years, and complete specialized training.

Technical training includes technical knowledge, as well as safety training that includes video screens, sensors, and emergency procedures.

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